Treating Your Ingrown Toenails

If you have an ingrown toenail, it can be painful to put on shoes, stand, and walk. An ingrown toenail can impact your life. Fortunately, our podiatrist can help. Dr. Therese Losi at Estrella Foot & Ankle in Phoenix, AZ, provides a wide range of podiatry services, including treatment of ingrown toenails.

What You Need To Know About Ingrown Toenails

You can develop an ingrown toenail from a few causes, including:

• Trauma or an injury to your toe or toenail
• Cutting your toenails too short
• Rounding the ends of your toenails
• Having toenails that curve under naturally
• Wearing narrow shoes that push your toes together

So, how do you know if you have an ingrown toenail? Your toe might:

• Look dark, bruised, and swollen
• Throb and ache from pressure underneath your toenail
• Have blood or pus coming out from underneath your toenail

For mild, occasional ingrown toenail symptoms, you can try a few simple techniques at home to get relief. You can try:

• Soaking your toes in warm water every day
• Trying to gently lift your toenail up off the surrounding skin
• Placing a small piece of dental floss under your toenail to try to guide the toenail upward
• Cushioning your toes with bandages or cotton
• Wearing sandals until your ingrown toenail heals

For moderate to severe ingrown toenail pain, you need to visit your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Lifting and separating your toenail from the surrounding skin
• Trimming off the ingrown part of your toenail, so your toenail can grow freely
• Removing the entire toenail so a healthy new toenail can grow

Remember these helpful tips to prevent ingrown toenails:

• Cut your toenails straight across
• Don’t cut your toenails too short
• Wear comfortable shoes that protect your toes
• Wear wider shoes with enough room for your toes

Want To Know More?

To learn more about the prevention and treatment of an ingrown toenail, call Dr. Losi at Estrella Foot & Ankle in Phoenix, AZ. You can reach her in the office by calling (623) 640-1799, so call today.