Ingrown Toenails Specialist

What causes ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails sometimes develop because of your inherited nail shape. If your nails are abnormally curved — known as a “pincer” shape — they may simply be prone to digging into your skin as part of the normal growth process.

You can also develop ingrown toenails for a variety of other reasons. Common causes and risk factors include:

• Cutting your toenails too short or rounding out your nail edges
• Wearing snug-fitting shoes or not wearing socks with shoes
• Having overly sweaty feet
• Being overweight

Your risk of struggling with an ingrown toenail and a serious infection is also high if you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation. 

When should I see a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail?

The team of highly skilled board-certified podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialty Center encourages you to come in for an ingrown toenail evaluation as soon as you start noticing inflammation and redness on one or both sides of your nail. 

While ingrown toenails most commonly affect your big toe, any of your toenails can become ingrown and cause:

• Stabbing or shooting pains
• Extreme tenderness
• Oozing or pus

If you experience any of these symptoms and your toe is warm to the touch, it’s a sign that you may have a serious infection. No matter how minor or how severe your ingrown toenail is, you can expect fast and effective relief at Foot & Ankle Specialty Center. 

How are ingrown toenails treated?

Treating an ingrown toenail depends on the severity of your condition, your history of ingrown toenails, and whether you have an infection. Minor ingrown toenails, for instance, can usually be treated by placing a splint underneath them to promote outward growth. Your podiatrist teaches you how to replace the splint regularly until your ingrown toenail is healed.

If your ingrown toenail is oozing and infected, you may need ingrown toenail surgery. This procedure, offered right in the office at Foot & Ankle Specialty Center, begins with numbing your toe with a small injection. Your podiatrist gently trims away the ingrown part of your nail and treats your infected nail bed directly.

If you have ongoing issues with ingrown toenails, you might need a more permanent solution. In this case, your dedicated podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Specialty Center could recommend removing your toenail and treating your nail’s growth center with a chemical or laser solution so your nail stops growing entirely.

Schedule your ingrown toenail evaluation at Foot & Ankle Specialty Center directly through the website. You can also call to speak with a team member.