Proper foot grooming requires you to keep your toenails short and clean. However, you might be experiencing pain in your big toe resulting from one side of your nail growing into the surrounding skin. The pain can grow worse with time, causing you sleepless nights. To relieve the pain and discomfort, visit an experienced podiatrist who treats ingrown toenail Midtown East. Please do not ignore that ingrown nail because it can result in you undergoing surgery in extreme cases. Here we will enlighten you on how to treat that ingrown toenail.
Causes of Ingrown Toenail
- Poor grooming
If you have a habit of cutting your toenails too short in the corners, you might develop ingrown toenails because they will extend to adjacent skin.
- Puberty
If you are an adolescent, your feet will sweat a lot. The sweat softens the skin and increases the tendency of the toenail to grow into the surrounding skin.
- Too Tight Foot Wear
If the shoe, socks, or stockings are very tight, the big toe will be constricted, and the toenail may press more to the skin.
- Injury
If you kick your toe against the edge of a table or a wall, drop something heavy on your toe or play football regularly, you can get injuries that correspond to an injured toenail.
When To See A Podiatrist
Also, you can remedy an ingrown toenail through home remedies, and you need to see a podiatrist if you are experiencing a lot of pain in the toe. Also, if you observe redness and swelling on the affected toe, kindly seek medical help. If you observe the build-up of pus in the toe, it is a sign of infection, and you should immediately visit the hospital. Also, cutting the ingrown nail can worsen the situation. Other instances which necessitate a visit to the doctor include;
- Diabetes
- Severe nerve damage on the toe
- Poor blood circulation
Treatment Options Available
The Podiatrist will recommend medical and home remedies to treat the ingrown nail. The remedies include;
- Soak the foot with the ingrown toe in warm water with Epsom salts twice each day
- Ensuring that the foot affected always remains dry
- Eliminate contact between the nail and the skin using changeable cotton pads or dental floss
- Applying antibiotic cream and bandage on the ingrown toe
- Wear open shoes throughout the treatment period
- If you experience pain, take pain-relieving medication
- Surgery if the toe has a severe infection
How To Prevent Ingrown Toenail
It is advisable to prevent the occurrence of the ingrown toenail to avoid pain, discomfort, and trip to the doctor by trimming your nails correctly, using a nail clipper or cutter, and wearing the correct shoe size. If you play games, you should avoid exposing your toe to trauma.
The Precision Footcare Center looks at your overall foot health, not even neglecting the simple conditions such as ingrown toenails. Though most people use home remedies, the ingrown toenail can cause infection, necessitating surgery. Therefore, visit the center for treatment and advice on keeping your toes healthy. Make that call book an appointment, or consult online.