Treating Ingrown Toenails With Ease

"Ouch, my toe hurts." After a season’s worth of stuffing them into your shoes, it’s no wonder that you might have an ingrown toenail. But treating this common foot problem is a breeze for your podiatrist.
Ingrown nails are the most common ailment of the nails seen by podiatric physicians. An ingrown nail is one whose corners or sides dig painfully into the soft tissue of the toe, often leading to irritation, redness and swelling. Usually, toenails grow out straight, but sometimes one or both corners or the sides will curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe is the most common
victim of this condition, but other toes can also become affected. Ingrown toenails may be caused by any one or more of the following:

• Improperly trimmed nails—Trim your nails straight across
and don’t round off the corners. Also, don’t cut nails too short.
• Shoes that are too tight—Make sure that shoes fit properly
and that the toes are not crowded in the toe box
• Trauma—Stubbing your toe or dropping heavy objects on
your toe can result in the nail growing improperly. Also, activities
with repeated pressure on the toe (such as running or kicking) can
lead to ingrown nails.
• Foot or toe deformities—Bunions or hammertoes, for example,
can place abnormal pressure on the sides of the nail.
• Heredity—If anyone in your family has ingrown nails, you
may be at risk as well.

Do-it-yourself treatments may be an option in some cases, but often a trip to your podiatrist’s office will be the most effective way to find a cure. If you want to try treating ingrown nails at home, and you’re sure that your toe is not infected (swollen, hot to the touch, or discolored), your best option is to soak your foot in a warm water bath and then apply an antiseptic and a bandage. If this treatment is ineffective, then a trip to your local podiatrist is the best bet. Do not attempt to "dig out" the nail from the skin at home. You could further damage the skin and the nail and increase the likelihood of infection. People with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or other circulatory disorders must avoid any form of self-treatment and seek podiatric medical care as soon as possible.
If you seek care in the doctor’s office, the podiatrist will examine your toe and determine the best treatment for you. If the toe is infected, the podiatrist will prescribe an appropriate oral antibiotic. If the nail is painful and uncomfortable, a simple procedure can be performed in the office that will usually prevent the nail from becoming ingrown again. In this case, after the toe is numbed, a portion of the nail is removed surgically. The doctor can determine how much of the nail should be removed to solve the problem.
Other techniques can also be done that will remove the nail root entirely. This treatment can prevent recurrence. After the procedure, the podiatrist will cover the area with a bandage and you can resume most normal activities. If an antibiotic is prescribed, make sure to take the full dose as directed by the doctor. It may take a few weeks for the nail margin to completely heal, but there are generally no restrictions in activity, bathing, or wearing shoes. Once the anesthetic wears off, there may be some very mild discomfort but rarely does this require pain medicine. A resumption of all activities including sports and exercise is generally permitted the following day.