Ingrown Toenails

When your toenail grows and wedges into the side of your toe skin, you develop a painful ingrown toenail. It can hurt so much that it’s hard to walk, and it can get infected, too. Take care of your toenails with the team at Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. in Park City and Chicago, Illinois. Call today to set up an appointment or use the online scheduling button.

What is an ingrown toenail, and what are the symptoms?

You can develop an ingrown toenail when the edge of your nail grows into the skin surrounding it, instead of straight out. It usually strikes your big toe and can quickly go from mild and tender to extremely painful.

Telltale signs of an ingrown toenail include:

• Redness or swelling along the side of your toenail
• Tenderness when you press on it
• Sharp pain when you put on shoes and walk

If the area becomes infected, you may also see pus and an oozy discharge.

What causes an ingrown toenail?

It’s usually a mix of issues that leads to an ingrown toenail. Some causes include:

• Cutting your nails too short or rounding the edges into the quick
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on your toes
• Toe injuries like bumping, stubbing, or dropping something on your foot
• Repetitive pressure from certain sports
• Naturally curved nails that grow inward

If you squeeze, bend, or cut your nail incorrectly, it can become an ingrown toenail.

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

At Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C., treatment is quick, effective, and well-tolerated by most people. First, your podiatrist numbs your toe so you don’t feel anything. They may try a conservative approach and lift the nail by inserting a piece of dental floss or a splint underneath it. 

Depending on the severity of your toenail’s condition, your provider may gently clip and remove the piece or fragment of the nail digging into your skin and causing the painful problem and prescribe a round of antibiotics if infection has set in. If you get ingrown toenails repetitively, your provider may treat the nail root so it doesn’t grow back the wrong way again. 

To prevent a recurrence, soak your feet periodically to soften the skin surrounding your toes, and wear shoes with a spacious toe box that gives your toes some wiggle room. Be sure to cut your nails straight across so they can’t curve back and grow into your toe skin. Your provider can show you exactly how to do it.

Call Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. to set up an ingrown toenail appointment or use the online scheduling feature at your convenience.