Ingrown Toenail Specialist

Why do I get ingrown toenails?

As the most common nail impairment among men and women, ingrown toenails occur when your toenail starts growing into your skin around your nail bed, rather than straight out. This can affect just one corner of your toenail or both. You can develop ingrown toenails because of:

• Cutting your toenails too short
• Rounding out your toenail edges
• Trauma or injury
• Abnormally curved nails

If your toes are always crowded due to snug-fitting shoes, you might be prone to developing ingrown toenails regularly. Any of your toenails can become ingrown, although in most cases, this condition affects your big toe.

What are the symptoms of ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails tend to become painful, causing throbbing or stabbing pain with each step you take. You may also experience:

• Redness or inflammation
• Drainage or oozing
• Foul odor

Plus, as your nail continues to grow with each passing day, your ingrown toenail just continues to get worse until you get treatment.

How are ingrown toenails treated?

The foot and ankle specialists at Podiatry Clinic of Jackson offer effective in-office treatments to resolve ingrown toenails and relieve discomfort, almost instantly. Depending on the severity of your ingrown toenail, your podiatrist may simply need to remove the ingrown part of your nail. If you have an underlying infection, you might need topical or oral medications to resolve that issue, too.

If your nail is severely ingrown, or if you continue to struggle with ingrown toenails, your podiatrist could remove part of your nail root, or even your entire nail. They can treat the underlying tissue with a chemical solution that prevents part of your nail from growing back, so you never have to deal with a painful ingrown toenail again — at least in that area.

Can I prevent ingrown toenails?

In many cases, yes. The caring team at Podiatry Clinic of Jackson teach you how to properly trim your nails and care for your feet to decrease your risk of future ingrown nails. It’s important to:

• Cut your nails straight across
• Avoid tearing or ripping your nails
• Avoid rounding out the edges of your nails

You also need to make sure your shoes have plenty of wiggle room in the toe areas, so your toenails don’t rub up against the inside of your toes.

You can get relief from your ingrown toenail pain today at Podiatry Clinic of Jackson. Either request your appointment online or call the clinic directly.