Taking Care of Ingrown Toenails

A common problem we see at Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle is ingrown toenails. This painful condition occurs when the corners or sides of the toenail dig into the skin. This growth back into the skin causes redness, swelling, and tenderness. If left untreated, the site will become sore and painful, red and most likely infected because once the nail breaks the skin, the area is open for bacteria to enter. Eventually, the skin will even start to grow over the ingrown nail.

Treatment

Dr. Larry Hotchkiss and Dr. Gregory Cardinal have over two decades of experience treating patients in the Clinton and Waldorf, MD area and will provide you with the highest standard of treatment and compassionate care available. After a thorough examination of your foot, if an ingrown toenail (or onychocryptosis, as it is officially called) is diagnosed, a proper treatment plan for you will be recommended. In most cases, soaking the foot with the ingrown nail in warm, soapy water several times a day will loosen the nail. If an infection is present, your foot doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In severe cases, surgical removal of part of the ingrown toenail may be necessary. Known as partial nail plate avulsion, the procedure involves injecting the toe with an anesthetic and cutting out the ingrown part of the toenail.

Prevention

Although ingrown toenails can be hereditary or the result of poor foot structure, there are some causes that can be avoided. You can help prevent ingrown toenails in the following ways:

• Don’t trim toenails too short. This is the biggest cause of ingrown toenails. Trim nails straight across with no rounded corners.
• Avoid socks and shoes that are too tight or too short in the toe box. The pressure caused by overly tight footwear can cause ingrown toenails.
• Observe your feet after an injury. Sometimes a trauma to the toe can lead to an ingrown toenail.
• Keep feet clean at all times. Ingrown toenails can be cause by a fungal infection.

Your podiatrist is here to help you keep your feet healthy. If you have a concern about an ingrown toenail or any other foot or ankle issue, call one of our offices today (Clinton: (301) 868-3899; Waldorf: (301) 843-9581) to schedule an appointment.