An ingrown toenail might start as a small annoyance, but left untreated, it can quickly spiral into a bigger problem.
The good news? If you spot the earliest signs of an ingrown nail, you can take action. You don’t have to wait for a small annoyance to become an infected, painful problem.
Read on as our team of experts at Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic in Michigan City, Chesterton, Indiana, and Lombard, Illinois, explains what those early warning signs are and how to stop an ingrown nail in its tracks.
Ingrown toenails develop when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin. You might suspect you have an ingrown nail if you spot:
If walking, wearing shoes, or touching the toe hurts, that’s your cue to act. As it worsens, you may notice increased warmth, drainage (pus), or other signs of infection.
Ingrown toenails happen when the edge of your nail grows into your skin. They’re often caused by improper nail cutting nails, either too short or too rounded.
However, even if you cut your nails properly, other risk factors can also contribute to the development of ingrown nails. Other risk factors include:
Some people are simply more prone than others. For example, dancers, people with diabetes, and anyone with water retention issues are more likely to develop ingrown nails.
Home remedies like digging into the nail or cutting it deeper may seem like the right solution. However, the National Center for Biotechnology Information specifically warns against cutting off the lateral (side) margins of your nail plate. Trying to dig out your own ingrown nail can dramatically increase your risk of infection. This is especially dangerous if you have diabetes or poor circulation.
If cutting out your own ingrown nail isn’t right, what’s left on the home remedy list? Your treatment depends on the severity.
Mild cases may improve with:
If pain or swelling persists, it’s time for professional care.
More advanced cases often benefit from in-office procedures that safely remove the ingrown portion of the nail and reduce the chance of recurrence. At Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic, Dr. Mahmood and Dr. Wilson treat ingrown nails with partial nail avulsion. For recurrent ingrown nails, we may recommend a matrixectomy.
Partial nail avulsion works because we remove the portion of the nail that is digging into your skin, relieving pressure and pain immediately. When combined with a nail matrixectomy (where we apply a special chemical to your nail base), the edge of your nail is prevented from growing back into the skin.
In addition to these procedures, our team can recommend antibiotics (topical or oral) to treat any infections that may have developed.
If you already see the earliest warning signs of an ingrown nail, don’t hesitate to reach out before it worsens. Schedule an appointment here with the Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic team.
You can also reach us via phone at 219-214-2047.
