Ingrown Toenail in Alexandria, VA
Ingrown toenails can be very painful, making it difficult to wear shoes, stand, and walk. Our podiatrist can treat ingrown toenails and give you relief.
Causes of Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail is a toenail that has grown into the surrounding skin. Ingrown toenails can be caused by cutting your toenails too short, rounding the corners when you cut your toenails, or suffering an accident or injury to your toes or nails.
Risk Factors for Developing Ingrown Toenails
You may be at greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail if you:
- Have toenails that naturally curve under
- Have suffered an injury to your toe or toenail
- Wear narrow shoes that crush your toes together
Signs and Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails
You may have an ingrown toenail if you notice swelling and bruising around your toenail, or you see redness and irritation around your toenail. You may experience throbbing pain and pressure underneath your toenail, or see the toenail separate from the nail bed. If you see pus coming out from under the toenail, your ingrown toenail may be infected.
How You Can Prevent Ingrown Toenails
You can do a lot to prevent ingrown toenails by remembering to trim your nails straight across, with no rounded corners, and avoid cutting your nails too short. You should also always wear protective shoes which are appropriate to whatever activity or sport you are doing.
What You Can Do for Ingrown Toenails
For occasional ingrown toenails with mild symptoms, you can try:
- Soaking your toe in warm water daily
- Placing a small piece of dental floss under your toenail to lift it off the surrounding skin
- Applying antibiotic cream around your toenail
- Wrapping your toe in bandaging to protect it
- Wearing open-toe shoes or sandals to help your toe heal
When You Should Visit Our Podiatrist for Ingrown Toenails
You should visit our podiatrist for an ingrown toenail if you are experiencing severe pain in your toe that interferes with you putting on shoes, if your symptoms are getting worse, or if the ingrown toenail keeps you from your daily activities.
How Our Podiatrist Can Help With Ingrown Toenails
For ingrown toenails that are causing moderate to severe symptoms, you should visit your podiatrist, who may recommend:
- Trimming off a section of your toenail that has grown into the skin
- Lifting and separating the toenail from the surrounding skin
- Removing the entire toenail so a new, healthy toenail can grow in its place