Ingrown Toenails

About two in 10 people who see a family doctor for foot problems have an ingrown toenail. At Prime Foot and Ankle Care in South Brunswick, New Jersey, skilled podiatrist Nrupa Shah, DPM, treats painful or nonhealing ingrown toenails to restore your toe’s health, ease discomfort, and reduce the risk of further problems. Schedule an evaluation by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.

What are ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails happen when the corner of your toenail grows into the surrounding skin — often on the big toe. They can appear for numerous reasons, particularly if you cut your toenails in a tapered manner instead of straight across. 

While ingrown toenails often heal on their own, sometimes they require medical intervention,  especially if they become infected or cause pain.

Which symptoms can ingrown toenails cause?

Ingrown toenails can lead to the following symptoms:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Pain
• Tenderness 
• Pus

When left untreated, complications that might develop because of an ingrown toenail include a worsening infection or scarring in the nail fold. Rarely, an infection can spread to your toe and the bone beneath.

What increases the risk of ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenail risk factors include:

• Being a teenager
• Having diabetes
• Being an athlete
• Poor blood circulation
• Nail infections
• Not cutting your toenails straight across
• Cutting your toenails too short 
• Poor-fitted shoes
• Tearing your nail
• Having large toenails
• Toe trauma

Taking good care of your feet helps lessen the risk of developing ingrown toenails.   

How are ingrown toenails diagnosed?

Dr. Shah diagnoses ingrown nails by carefully examining the affected toenail. She discusses your medical history, reviews your symptoms, and may recommend X-rays or bacterial or fungal culture tests for an infection to determine how to best treat your condition. 

How are ingrown toenails treated?

Treating an ingrown toenail may consist of one or more of the following:

• Keeping your feet clean and dry
• Soaking the affected nail in Epsom salt and warm water
• Lifting the ingrown nail
• Altering your footwear
• Antibiotic cream and a bandage
• Oral medications
• Surgery

Dr. Shah can remove all or part of an infected ingrown toenail if necessary.

Reduce the risk of future ingrown toenails by cutting your nails straight across, not cutting them too short, and keeping your feet clean. 

Don’t tear your nails or cut them into rounded corners. Wear shoes that are comfortable and not too tight. If you have diabetes, check your feet regularly for infections and wounds. Contact Dr. Shah at the first sign of a problem. 

Schedule an ingrown toenail evaluation at Prime Foot and Ankle Care by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.