Foot Care: Ingrown Toenails Causes Symptoms and Treatment Options

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Foot care Ingrown Toenails

• Causes, Symptoms Treatment Options

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What is an ingrown toenail?

• Common foot condition that can normally be
  self-diagnosed
• Occurs when the sides of your toenails begin to
  grow into the skin surrounding your nail
• Normally occurs in the big toe but any toe can be
  affected
• More than 3 million people suffer from ingrown
  toenails in the United States each year

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Ingrown Toenail Causes

• Genetics if mom and dad suffer from ingrown
  toenails frequently, chances are you will too
• Improper trimming visit your podiatrist to make
  sure your toenails are being trimmed correctly
• Improperly-fitting footwear shoes that are too
  tight can put pressure on your nails, resulting
  in an ingrown toenail
• Poor foot hygiene not keeping your feet clean
  and dry could lead to an ingrown toenail

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Additional Causes of Ingrown Toenails

• Poor posture
• Irregular or curved-shaped toenails
• Injuring your toe (stubbing your toe or dropping
  something on your toe)
• Certain athletic activities that put more strain
  on your feet
• Ballet
• Soccer
• Kickboxing

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Identifying an Ingrown Toenail

• It is imperative to identify and treat your
  ingrown toenail at its earliest stages to prevent
  an infection from developing. If severe, an
  infection could result in amputation .
• Here are some common signs of an ingrown toenail
• Pain
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Bleeding
• Pus
• Skin overgrowing around toe

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Ingrown Toenail Treatments conservative Options

• Treat your ingrown toenail as early as possible
  to prevent an infection that would require
  further treatment.
• Soak your foot with the ingrown toenail 3 to 4
  times each day and be sure to dry your foot
  completely
• Wear shoes that have enough room for your toes.
  Consider switching to sandals while your ingrown
  toenail is healing
• If youre experiencing associated pain,
  over-the-counter pain medication can provide some
  relief

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Ingrown Toenail Surgery

• For ingrown toenails that are severe or infected,
  your podiatrist may recommend surgery to treat
  the condition
• In most cases, oral antibiotics will be
  prescribed in addition to partially or completely
  removing the affected nail
• Your podiatrist may also remove some of your nail
  bed or the surrounding skin
• Removing the nail permanently may be recommended
  if your condition is chronic

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Prevent Ingrown Toenails from Recurring

• Wear shoes that arent too tight and have enough
  room for your toes
• Cut your toenails straight across
• Your podiatrist can trim your toenails correctly
  to prevent the condition
• Keep your feet clean and dry
• Consult your podiatrist or foot doctor if you
  have a toe injury that may cause an ingrown
  toenail