Ingrown Toenail Treatments
Ingrown toenails are a very common problem nowadays in the USA. Most patients with ingrown toenail conditions do not require surgical ingrown toenail treatments, which is a simple procedure to remove the nail. Contact one of the best podiatrists in Scottsdale, Dr. Kosak, for the best of ingrown toenail treatments.
What are the ingrown toenails?
We have all made the painful mistake of trimming our nails too short at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this can really affect our foot health by causing ingrown toenails. This happens when the nail grows downward into the skin instead of straight out, usually causing an infection. Ingrown toenails are most common on the sides of the big toe. It can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungal infections, poor foot structure, etc.
How to prevent Ingrown toenails?
There are ways to prevent ingrown toenails before seeing your foot doctor for ingrown toenail treatments. Ideally, are daily care on your foot, toes and ankle will prevent ingrown toenails from happening.
Warm water soaks several times a day, properly fitted shoes and socks, and trimming nails in a straight line (rather than rounded) are ways to treat and prevent painful ingrown toenails. If there is an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
If left untreated, the skin may begin to grow over the toenail, encapsulating the nail. Surgery is then required to remove the nail.
Most ingrown toenail sufferers explain that they start feeling a stabbing or throbbing pain in their toe with each step they take. That’s often the first warning sign of an ingrown toenail. As the nail becomes more ingrown and continues digging into your skin, you may experience:
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Oozing pus
- Miss-shaped toes
- Troubles to walk
What are the ingrown toenail treatments?
Medical Treatments:
In case of ingrown toenail infection, seeing an experienced podiatrist is recommended. Dr. Kosak in Scottsdale is known for treating infected ingrown toenail. The treatment for ingrown toenail includes:
- Cut out the offending nail border
- Removing entire infected ingrown toenails
- Apply chemical phenol with the surgical procedure to remove the infected cell and regrow the nails.
In-Home Treatments:
For most ingrown toenail patients, a simple in-home treatment can be done easily.
- Soaking: Soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and 3 to 4 times daily. Soaking your entire foot will reduce swelling and relieves tenderness.
- Growing: Use cotton or dental floss under your toenail after each soaking. A fresh bit of cotton or waxed dental floss under the ingrown edge will help the nail grow above the skin edge.
- Antibiotic cream. Put antibiotic ointment on the tender area and bandage the toe.
- Sensible footwear. Consider wearing open-toed shoes or sandals until your toe feels better.
- Pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help ease the toe pain.
For more information on ingrown toenail treatments or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (480) 247-8443!