Treating Ingrown Nails n Boone & Jefferson, NC

Ingrown nails can be very painful, making it difficult to wear shoes, stand, and walk. Our podiatrist can treat ingrown nails and give you relief.

Causes of Ingrown Nails

An ingrown nail is a toenail that has grown into the surrounding skin. Ingrown nails can be caused by cutting your toenails too short, rounding the corners when you cut your toenails, or suffering an accident or injury to your toes or nails.

Risk Factors for Developing Ingrown Nails

You may be at greater risk of developing an ingrown nail if you:

• Have toenails that naturally curve under
• Have suffered an injury to your toe or toenail
• Wear narrow shoes that crush your toes together

Signs and Symptoms of Ingrown Nails

You may have an ingrown nail if you notice swelling and bruising around your nail, or you see redness and irritation around your nail. You may experience throbbing pain and pressure underneath your nail, or see the nail separate from the nail bed. If you see pus coming out from under the nail, your ingrown nail may be infected.

How You Can Prevent Ingrown Nails

You can do a lot to prevent ingrown nails by remembering to trim your nails straight across, with no rounded corners, and avoid cutting your nails too short. You should also always wear protective shoes which are appropriate to whatever activity or sport you are doing.

What You Can Do for Ingrown Nails

For occasional ingrown nails with mild symptoms, you can try:

• Soaking your toe in warm water daily
• Placing a small piece of dental floss under your nail to lift it off the surrounding skin
• Applying antibiotic cream around your nail
• Wrapping your toe in bandaging to protect it
• Wearing open-toe shoes or sandals to help your toe heal

When You Should Visit Our Podiatrist for Ingrown Nails

You should visit our podiatrist for an ingrown nail if you are experiencing severe pain in your toe that interferes with you putting on shoes, if your symptoms are getting worse, or if the ingrown nail keeps you from your daily activities.

How Our Podiatrist Can Help With Ingrown Nails

For ingrown nails that are causing moderate to severe symptoms, you should visit your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Trimming off a section of your toenail that has grown into the skin
• Lifting and separating the toenail from the surrounding skin
• Removing the entire toenail so a new, healthy toenail can grow in its place

Want To Know More?

To find out more about the signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of ingrown nails, call Dr. Paul Zimmerman and Dr. Jonathan Tenley at Boone Podiatry. You can reach them in either of the Boone, and Jefferson, NC, offices by calling (828) 265-3668, so call today.