subject: Experience Relief For Your Ingrown Toenails Without The Downtime [print this page] As the weather is quickly warming up, many people are beginning to bring their sandals and flip-flops out of hiding. However, are your toes ready to be shown off? Many people tend to ignore foot and toe conditions during the winter because no one really sees their feet. Now that the weather is warmer, it is time to check out the health of your toenails.
If you have ever had an ingrown toenail, you know how painful it can be, so start now in protecting your toes from pesky ingrown toenails. And if you already have an ingrown toenail, your podiatrist in Toronto can help relieve your pain without any downtime with the carbon dioxide laser treatment in his Toronto foot clinic.
What are Ingrown Toenails?
An ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis, is a painful condition of the toe. It occurs when a sharp corner of the toe nail 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.
Find Relief with the Carbon Dioxide Laser
With advancements in podiatric technology, it is now possible to get permanent relief from ingrown toenails in the Toronto office of foot specialist, Sheldon Nadal. The procedure is performed painlessly with local anesthetic. Only your toe is frozen and just the painful ingrown side of the nail is removed. The part of the root that is causing the problem is treated with the carbon dioxide laser and a special chemical.
Once the procedure is completed a small bandage is placed on your toe, which allows you to walk out of the office immediately. At home, you simply apply an ointment and a Band-Aid to help in the healing process. To make sure your toe is healing properly, Sheldon Nadal, DPM, your podiatrist in Toronto, will ask you to come back to his office for further review of the healing of your toe.
Prevent the Development of Ingrown Toenails
When it comes to ingrown toenails, the best method is prevention. Using a safety nail clipper, cut the nails straight across so that the nail corner is visible. If you cut the nail too short, you are inviting the nail corner to grow into the skin. It is the natural tendency, when the edge of the nail starts to grow in, to cut down at an angle at the edge, to relieve the pain. This does relieve the pain temporarily, but it also can start a downward spiral, training the nail to become more and more ingrown. Cutting your toenails properly will go a long way toward the prevention of ingrown toenails.
Additionally, be sure to wear roomy shoes that fit properly. It is also important to keep your feet clean and dry. If you have diabetes or circulatory problems, have your toenails trimmed regularly by a podiatrist for added protection.
Protect your feet and prevent ingrown toenails. If you suspect that you have an ingrown toenail and home treatment does not work, contact your podiatrist in Toronto, Ontario, Sheldon Nadal, DPM, for further treatment. In addition, if the ingrown toenail becomes more painful and infected, immediate treatment will be needed.
