Ingrown Toenails
Does the side of your toenail dig into your skin and cause pain?
You may have an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails can cause pain, redness, swelling and tenderness along the edge of the nail. If left untreated, they can sometimes become infected.
The good news? You don’t have to live with a painful toenail. Treatment is usually simple and can provide quick relief.
What Is an Ingrown Toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge or corner of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin and usually causes pain. This most commonly affects the big toe, but the other toes can also become ingrown.
As the nail continues to press into the skin, the area may become increasingly painful, red, and swollen and can sometimes become infected.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
Genetics
Some people naturally have more curved toenails that are prone to becoming ingrown.
Improper Nail Trimming
Cutting toenails too deep into the borders.
Tight Shoes
Shoes that crowd or put pressure on the toes.
Trauma
Stubbing your toe or repeated pressure on the nail can lead to an ingrown toenail.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment
*Treatment depends on how bad your ingrown nail has become. Simple conservative treatments such as soaking, shoe gear modification, and trimming may be enough to resolve the issue.
*If the toenail has become infected, a nail procedure can be done in the office to remove the border that is digging into the skin. This is called a toenail avulsion.
*If you suffer from chronic ingrown toenails, a procedure can be done in the office to remove the border of the nail permanently. This is called a toenail matrixectomy.