Ingrown Toenails- Don't Let Them Hibernate This Winter

As the weather gets colder, we start to put away our summer sandals and trade them in for closed -toed shoes and boots

. However, it is even more important than ever to take care of your feet this winter to protect your toes from painful ingrown nails. Just because your feet are hidden, doesn't mean you can neglect their care. When you have an ingrown toenail it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders. This "digging in" of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.

What is an Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis, is a painful condition of the toe. It occurs when a sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. Initial symptoms are tenderness to touch, pain with shoes, swelling, redness, increased warmth to touch, and drainage or pus from the toe. Your podiatrist can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications of an ingrown toenail.

If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation to your feet, you are at a greater risk of developing complications from an ingrown toenail. Always visit your podiatrist for treatment if you are diabetic and experience any foot problems. Symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:

*Pain and tenderness in your toe along one or both sides of the toenail

*Redness around your toenail

*Swelling of your toe around the nail

*Infection of the tissue around your toenail

Additionally, ingrown toenails can be caused by:*Improperly trimmed nails*Heredity*Shoe irritation*Repeated trauma to the feet from normal activitiesTreatmentIngrown toenails may improve with simple home remedies, such as soaking your foot regularly in warm water, applying an antibiotic cream, and wearing wider shoes. If pain continues or there is pus or redness that seems to be spreading, see your podiatrist for further treatment. You may need to have part of the nail removed and antibiotics prescribed for the infection. Ingrown toenail treatment often includes removing just the portion of toenail that is causing pain and/or infection. Under extreme circumstances, the entire nail plate may need to be removed.Your podiatrist may also recommend using topical or oral antibiotics for ingrown toenail treatment, especially if the toe is infected.Preventative TipsTo remain on the right track with foot health, there are some simple precautions you may take to prevent painful ingrown toenails. Following these preventions may keep your feet happy and healthy.Painful ingrown toenails can be avoided by:*Trimming toenails straight across with no rounded corners.*Ensuring socks and shoes are not too tight.*Keeping feet clean at all times.Persistent ingrown toenails will require a trip to the podiatrist in order to alleviate the pain, infection and other symptoms. When meeting with your Charlotte, NC podiatrist, they can help diagnose, treat and prevent ingrown toenails. It is important to contact your Charlotte podiatrist at the first onset of any painful infection to prevent any further spreading.by: Gen Wright

POST COMMENT

Magazine Subscriptions For Every Walk Of Life Htc Evo View 4g Review Beckoning Life With A Goblet Of Wine Laide A Domicile : La Solution Gain De Temps Easy Way To Get The Halloween Decorations Labeling Becomes Easy With Inkjet Labels The Effects Of One Cigarette All About Slim Fit Dress Shirts Improved E-mail Security Php Carpet Cleaning Omaha Keep Your Halloween Safe #2 Tricks Different Types Of Kabbalah Jewelry Face Recognition System: Accuracy Beyond Imagination