Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common condition that affects millions of people across all age groups. This painful condition occurs most often in the big toe when the edge of the nail grows into the skin surrounding the nailbed, resulting in redness, swelling, and pain. While ingrown toenails most often occur on the big toe, they can develop on any toe.  

What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

Wearing shoes that crowd your toes, injuries to the nail like wearing tight shoes, stubbing your toe, improper nail trimming, and heredity can all lead to the development and reoccurrence of ingrown toenails. If you are a diabetic or have a condition that affects circulation in your feet, you are also at a higher risk for this condition.

How To Treat Ingrown Toenails

If you have noticed redness, swelling, and pain on the edges of your nail bed, wearing loose-fitting shoes and soaking your feet in Epsom salt can help alleviate the pain until you can have the ingrowing nail properly removed by a podiatrist. Do not pick it at, attempt to remove it yourself, or have a nail salon cut it out for you, as it can lead to infections and further complications. 

Triad Foot & Ankle Center podiatrists can safely remove the ingrown nail with an in-office procedure called a nail avulsion. The physician will numb the toe and carefully remove the embedded nail. If you suffer from reoccurring ingrown toenails, your doctor may suggest a permanent nail avulsion, where a chemical is applied to the affected area to prevent the nail from growing back into the skin.