Published: September 11, 2019
Ingrown Nails: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
What is an Ingrown Nail?
- When the side/corner of a nail is curving into the skin.
- This can lead to:
- Pain, redness, swelling, drainage, infection and odor
Causes:
- Improper nail trimming
- Aggressive pedicures
- Broken nail
- Tight shoes
- Stubbing or dropping something on your toe
- Genetics
Prevention
- Cut your nails straight across
- Avoid cutting the sides of your nails back into the skin
- Do not pick or peel your nails
Treatment
- Home Care
- Foot soaks with Epsom salts
- Antibiotic Cream – not ointment
- Please do not attempt “bathroom surgery” this often makes the problem worse
- If the toe is not getting better within a few days you should seek professional medical treatment.
- Diabetic and immunocompromised patients should not attempt any home treatment and should contact their Podiatrist immediately.
- Professional Care
- After a History and Physical exam your Podiatrist will select the best treatment
- Often times, a minor procedure is performed to remove a small portion of the side of the nail.
- Local numbing medicine is used
- The medicine is put in at the base of the toe, not the tip
- If the nail is not infected, a procedure can be performed in the office to permanently remove a portion of the nail
- This prevents future ingrown nails.
What to Expect on Your Appointment Day
- It is possible that you will have a nail procedure done on the same day as your evaluation
- Wear a loose fitting shoe, crocs or sandals
- Eat before your appointment
- Plan to take the rest of the day off if you have a nail procedure performed
- Due to the numbing medicine you will have minimal pain
- Your doctor will give you instructions on how to properly take care of the nail
- A prescription for antibiotic cream
Did You Know?
- In Ohio – a podiatrist can treat ingrown nails of both the feet and hands
- Podiatrists are professionally trained to treat ingrown nails