Ingrown toenails are one of the most common foot issues. In fact, about one in five doctor visits for foot problems are due to ingrown nails.
Most of the time, an ingrown nail improves with at-home treatments, such as soaking the nail or wearing open-toed shoes. However, certain medical conditions — such as diabetes and poor circulation — may increase your risk of infection and other complications.
At Woodlands Center for Special Surgery, in The Woodlands and Willis, Texas, our team regularly treats ingrown toenails. Here, we explain what an ingrown toenail is, when it needs professional care, and what to expect.
An ingrown toenail occurs when one of your toenails grows into the soft skin along the side of the nailbed. The condition can affect anyone, but it’s most common in people who wear certain styles of shoes, like high heels, that crowd the toes.
It can be challenging to know whether an ingrown toenail requires professional treatment, but some telltale signs can help guide your decision. Get in touch with our team if you have an ingrown nail that:
Seeing a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail is especially important if you have diabetes or another medical condition that affects circulation. Poor blood flow prevents oxygen and other vital nutrients from reaching your feet, increasing the risk of infection and other problems.
After reviewing your medical history, discussing your symptoms, and completing a foot exam, we may recommend:
We can often treat minor ingrown toenails with a nail splint. This small, plastic piece slips under your nail and gently encourages it to grow out and away from your skin.
If you have a nail that repeatedly grows into the skin on the same toe, we may suggest partially removing it. This involves numbing your toe with a local anesthetic and then removing the edge that’s causing problems. We may also prescribe antibiotics if your toe is infected.
Sometimes ingrown nails cause persistent or recurring infections. When this happens, we often recommend removing the nail entirely, with a medical laser or chemical solution. However, this is a last resort.
If you regularly experience ingrown toenails and can’t seem to get the issue under control, professional treatment from a podiatrist can help keep your feet healthy and provide peace of mind.
Contact Woodlands Center for Special Surgery by calling the office near you.
