When it comes to taking care of your feet, you’ll know when you have an ingrown toenail. The nail, typically the large toenail, starts growing into the side of your toe, creating a lot of pain and red swelling in that area.
What are the symptoms for an ingrown toenail?
Here are some of the common symptoms that indicate you may have an ingrown toenail:
- Redness around the toe and nails area, leading to excessive pain
- Bleeding from the nails
- Pus formation in the toenails
- Infection both in the inner corners and the outer corners of the toes
- Excessive swelling of the toenails
If any of these symptoms arise, especially an infection, it is important to contact one of our podiatrists in Baltimore, who can conduct ingrown toenail removal surgery so that the root of the nail can be removed, and your foot can find relief.
What is involved with ingrown toenail surgery?
For the ingrown nail surgery, typically the podiatrist will give you the option to remove just a sliver of the nail with the root (which is more aesthetically pleasing) or to remove the whole toenail, since some patients prefer not to have to bother with their nail anymore.
There’s no need to worry! An ingrown toenail procedure may be a minor surgery, which takes very little time and can often be performed right at the podiatrist’s office instead of a hospital.
After the surgery, you’ll need to wear open-toed or loose fitting shoes and stay off your feet for a day or two, but your feet will thank you later for making the decision to get this procedure done.
Who can develop ingrown toenails?
The condition of an ingrown toenail can affect anyone, but it is most common in adults and teenagers.
What are the common causes of ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails can develop in various ways, such as:
- Not cutting the toenails properly can cause the nail to grow in a haphazard manner that digs into the side of the toe, leading to an ingrown toenail.
- Irregular nails can also lead to such a condition
- Accidentally dropping something heavy on your toenail, then improper treatment of the injury can also lead to the growth of ingrown toenails. It would be best to contact our podiatric surgeons in Baltimore in order to treat the condition with a minor ingrown toenail procedure.
- Improperly fitted shoes can also irritate the nail bed, causing an ingrown toenail
Can an ingrown toenail heal by itself?
On rare occasions, an ingrown toenail can heal on its own, but typically it requires ingrown toenail surgery to cure the condition completely.
If you need ingrown toenail treatment in Baltimore and the surrounding areas or have any questions about the treatments described above, check out our Podiatry Associates locations and find a podiatrist near you. Feel free to call our scheduling office to discuss your specific situation: (833) 500-FEET.
Time to See a Podiatrist?
If you have any of the issues described above, it’s time to consult an expert. Connect with Podiatry Associates for an evaluation. All of our doctors are board certified/qualified and we’re dedicated to preserving your foot health.
