Ingrown Toenails

When toenails grow into your skin instead of over it, you experience an intense tenderness that becomes increasingly painful as the nail embeds itself further. Visit Stephanie Parks, DPM, and Justin Ward, DPM, at Bosque Foot and Ankle in Albuquerque, New Mexico, if you notice an ingrown toenail. They offer effective treatments that relieve pain and ensure your nails grow properly. Call Bosque Foot and Ankle to arrange an ingrown toenail assessment or schedule a consultation online today.

What are ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails occur when a nail (usually the big toe nail) grows into the surrounding tissue. This abnormal growth begins if something blocks or changes the nail’s natural path and makes it dig into your skin.

Toenails grow significantly less quickly than fingernails, so it can take a while to notice you have an ingrown one. However, if you don’t get the problem sorted, ingrown toenails can cut into the flesh, causing inflammation and pain.

Why do I have an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails typically develop when people trim their toenails incorrectly. Shaping your toenails at the sides like you would your fingernails is a common cause, so always cut straight across the nail.

Cutting your toenails too short increases your chance of developing ingrown toenails. The Bosque Foot and Ankle team recommends you keep your toenails level with your toe when trimming. Fungal infections also increase your ingrown toenail risk.

Do ingrown toenails require medical treatment?

Ingrown toenails might not seem important if they aren’t causing any discomfort. However, they can quickly worsen and become painful. Ingrown toenails can also cause complications in some patients.

For example, infections may develop in skin damaged by ingrown toenails. Occasionally, these infections spread into the bones.

You should be particularly vigilant about ingrown toenails if you have diabetes, which causes nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and poor circulation. These conditions leave your feet vulnerable to infection, which could develop into diabetic ulcers (open, slow-healing wounds).

What treatment do ingrown toenails require?

When you have an irritating ingrown toenail, it’s tempting to cut it out to relieve the pressure. However, this will likely worsen the problem because the nail will regrow even deeper into your skin.

The best solution is to visit Bosque Foot and Ankle for professional nail trimming. Your podiatrist realigns the toenail and applies a chemical solution that helps to prevent the nail from ingrowing again.

You might need antibiotic treatment for infected ingrown toenails. Your podiatrist can also perform in-office nail removal under local anesthetic if your ingrown toenail is severe.

Call Bosque Foot and Ankle or book an appointment online today to benefit from outstanding ingrown toenail care.