An ingrown toenail can be incredibly painful, and some people develop them again and again. There are steps you can take to prevent ingrown toenails or treat them in the early stages.
At Ohio Foot and Ankle Center, we take great pride in helping those in our care find lasting relief from a wide range of foot and ankle issues, including ingrown toenails. Aaron Chokan, DPM, and Kristina Minniti, DPM, are happy to share advice on how to manage ingrown toenails at home.
An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of your toenail begin to grow downward into your skin, instead of extending straight out with the rest of the toenail. They are most common in the toenail of your big toe, but they can also develop in other toenails.
Here are some of the causes of ingrown toenails:
As you can see, some of these circumstances are within your control while others are not.
One of the easiest ways to avoid ingrown toenails is by paying close attention to the way you trim your toenails. Be sure to cut straight across the top, without rounding the nail's corners. This helps the toenail grow straight out without digging into the surrounding skin.
If you experience frequent ingrown toenails, take a close look at your footwear. If your shoes are overly tight in the toe box, they might be squeezing your toes and pressing the nail downward into your skin.
If your work or hobbies put you at high risk of foot and toe injuries, consider wearing shoes that provide some structure and protection in the toe area.
If you notice tenderness, redness, or swelling at the sides of a toenail, taking steps to address the issue early can prevent the toenail from continuing to intrude into the surrounding skin.
Try soaking your feet in soapy warm water or Epsom salts once or twice a day to ease swelling and discomfort. Be sure to keep your feet dry at all other times.
You can also insert a small piece of cotton or dental floss as a barrier between your toenail and the surrounding skin. Replacing the material daily can help your toenail grow out properly, above the skin.
Wearing a bandage and using an antibiotic ointment or cream can reduce the risk of an infection if the toenail has already pushed into the nearby skin.
If these steps don’t prevent or treat an ingrown toenail, it may be time to seek the help of a podiatry specialist. The team at Ohio Foot and Ankle Center offers several treatment options to prevent and treat ingrown toenails.
Options include placing a special type of splint along the edge of your toenail to keep the growth pattern straight. Your practitioner can also surgically remove part or all of the nail, eliminating the risk of future ingrown toenails.
Surgery is often the preferred approach for people who suffer from frequent or severe ingrown toenails. These simple procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, and recovery is relatively straightforward.
We hope these tips help you avoid or treat ingrown toenails on your own. If you decide to seek professional treatment, we’re always happy to meet with you to discuss your options. Simply reach out online or by phone to check appointment availability at our office locations in Canton, Stow, and Rittman, Ohio.
