Ingrown Toenails- Prevention And Treatment Practices

One of the more common foot ailments people suffer from are ingrown toenails

. When the corner or side of your toenail grows into the soft tissue of your toe, pain, redness and swelling can occur. Most of the time, the consequences of an ingrown nail are simply pain and a slight inconvenience. If the nail is left untreated, however, serious problems can develop and your podiatrist may have to get involved. To avoid getting ingrown toenails, it is important to properly trim your toenails and consistently monitor your nails for any developing issues.

Tips To Prevent An Ingrown Toenail

To avoid getting an ingrown nail, there are a few steps you can take to help ensure your feet remain healthy. Here are a few of the most important things you can do:

*Cut your toenails straight across. When most people cut their toenails, they tend to cut them along the shape of the curve of their toes. This can contribute to the development of an ingrown nail. To avoid this, try to cut your toenails straight across.

*Wear properly fitting shoes. Another major factor in the development of ingrown toenails is the type of shoes that you wear. If you wear shoes that place a great deal of pressure on your toes or pinch them, you will have a greater chance to develop ingrown nails. To avoid this, wear shoes that properly fit and don't put too much pressure on your toes.

*Keep toenails at a moderate length. In addition to cutting your nails straight across, it is important to make sure they are not too long and not too short. If you trim them too short, pressure from your shoes can force them to grow into your skin. Make sure they are about even with the tips of your toes.

Treatment For Ingrown Nails

If you develop an ingrown nail, there are several different treatment options you can pursue. They range from simple home remedies to surgery to remove part of your nail. Here are some of the common ingrown nail treatments:

*Soak your feet. Doing this for 15 to 20 minutes at a time twice per day in warm water will relieve swelling and tenderness in your feet.

*Use a topical antibiotic. Using an antibiotic ointment can help to reduce the chance of infection to your toe. Bandage your toe after applying the ointment.

*Take pain relievers. To deal with mild pain, is appropriate to take over the counter medication like Tylenol or Advil. If the pain is severe, you should see your podiatrist.

*Lifting the nail. Your podiatrist may try to lift the nail by placing cotton or a splint under the edge of your nail. By doing this, your nail will grow in normally and avoid hitting your skin.

*Removing part of your nail. If your nail is severely ingrown, your podiatrist may remove the part of your nail that is causing the problem. Generally he or she will inject you with an anesthetic to perform this procedure.

To learn more about how to prevent or treat an ingrown toenail, contact your Lincoln Park podiatrist today.

by: Gen Wright

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