What is an ingrown toenail?
A nail becomes ingrown when it gets buried under the soft flesh at the corners of your toe. An ingrown toenail can be quite painful and could even make it impossible to wear socks and shoes comfortably. If ingrown toenails aren’t treated, they can cause an infection that may spread beyond your toes.
Why do I have an ingrown toenail?
There are many possible reasons for an ingrown toenail, including:
- Lack of nail care or improper nail trimming
- Trauma to your toes
- Footwear that compresses your toes
- Hereditary
Regardless of the reason for your ingrown toenail, you can get the treatment you need at Endurance Foot and Ankle. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Jones.
How do you treat an ingrown toenail?
If you have a recurring ingrown toenail, Dr. Jones may recommend a nail matricectomy. In this procedure, he uses local anesthesia to make sure that you experience no pain. Then, he lifts the ingrown part of your nail and precisely removes that entire portion of your nail out.
Dr. Jones applies a special chemical to the nail matrix (the root of your toenail). This chemical solution prevents nail regrowth in that particular area.
How can I prevent an ingrown toenail?
Dr. Jones can recommend some preventive measures, such as:
- How to properly trim and care for your nails
- Avoiding shoes that compress your toes (anything with a tight toe box)
- Soaking your toe
If you try to cut out an ingrown toenail yourself, you have an extremely high risk of complicating the problem and causing infection, serious skin wounds, and other problems.
Let Dr. Jones at Endurance Foot and Ankle show you how to permanently stop your ingrown toenail from coming back. Call the office, or book an appointment online today.
