What is an ingrown toenail?
Ingrown toenails are toenails that have not grown in correctly, growing into the bed of the nail and causing a variety of issues.
While many times you can go about your daily life with an ingrown toenail, if it becomes infected or impacts your daily activities, it’s time to make an appointment with the Desert Canyon Foot and Ankle podiatrists.
What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?
You can usually identify ingrown toenails by sight. The other symptoms of ingrown toenails include:
- Pain where the nail and nail bed meet
- Swelling around the nail
- Fluid drainage (if the nail is infected)
Though many people have ingrown toenails, you should make an appointment with a Desert Canyon podiatrist if they become painful or if you think they’re infected.
What causes ingrown toenails?
Nails that grow into the nail bed create an ingrown toenail, but there are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing an ingrown toenail.
Risk factors include:
- Cutting your nail too short
- Wearing tight, ill-fitting shoes
- Having consistently damp feet
- Having diabetes
- Being overweight
- Injury to the nail
- Playing sports
You may also be genetically predisposed to ingrown toenails. If you have a history of family members with ingrown toenails or a history of getting them, you may naturally be at higher risk of developing them in the future.
How are ingrown toenails treated?
There are some things you can do at home to relieve pain from an ingrown toenail. The Desert Canyon Foot and Ankle podiatrists recommend soaking your toes in warm water to help relieve pain. By adding Epsom salts or antibacterial soap to this water, you can also fight infections.
How can I prevent ingrown toenails?
To prevent ingrown toenails, you can:
- Wear shoes that fit properly
- Keep your feet dry
- Wear shoes and socks that provide ventilation
- Don’t clip your toenails too short
Letting your toenails grow a little longer helps prevent ingrown toenails as well.
If pain from an ingrown toenail is impacting your life, don’t battle through it — make an appointment with Dr. Pfitzer and Dr. Brower at Desert Canyon Foot & Ankle today. You can schedule your appointment today by calling their office or scheduling online.
