As the eyes are the windows to the soul, toenails are the windows to the feet. Your toenails can tell us a lot about the overall health of your feet and sometimes even your body. The big toe is the most important toe of the foot because it is the joint that propels us forward while walking. Unfortunately, the big toe is the most common toe to develop an ingrown toenail. An ingrown toenail is a nail that starts to grown inward, towards the skin. This can be very painful and can lead to infection if left untreated.
PREVENTION
Wear wider shoes. Give your toes plenty of wiggle room. If your shoes are too tight or narrow, it could lead to ingrown toenails. Trim your nails straight across. It’s ok to trim the corners a little bit but don’t go down the sides of the nails. Give your feet a good soak in epsom salt, occasionally.
TREATMENT
Have the ingrown toenail removed by a professional, don’t attempt to do this yourself. If you remove your own ingrown toenails, they will continue to form. When is it time to see a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail? If you have pain or redness that comes and goes or is constant, it’s time to come in. If you notice the skin around the nail changing color, this can also be a sign that it’s time to make an appointment. It’s important to come see us before the ingrown toenail turns into an infection. If an infection occurs or there’s overgrowth of the tissue (granuloma), you may need an antibiotic.
At Howard County Foot and Ankle, we treat everything from ingrown toenails and warts to flatfeet and heel pain. Many people come to us for diabetic foot care or simply because they have foot pain or ankle pain and don’t know the cause of it. We handle emergencies such as fractures and infections as well. Dr. Bui performs a wide variety of surgeries and specializes in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. You won’t find a better foot doctor than our highly skilled and highly qualified, Dr. Christina Bui! Call or email us to ask any questions you might have. We would love to be your go-to Podiatrist!
