Ingrown toenails are unsightly and painful. They can make it difficult for you wear shoes and walk around. The good news is, the pain and pressure of ingrown toenails can be relieved with several effective treatments from your podiatrist. Dr. Leonard Vekkos at Foot & Ankle Wellness Center at Seven Bridges in Woodridge, IL, offers a full range of foot care services including ingrown toenail treatment, to help you and your feet feel better fast.
Ingrown toenails are easy to spot. First, they are very painful, due to the pressure of fluid and inflammation building up underneath your toenail. In addition to the pain, they will also appear swollen and dark red or purple, from blood building up underneath your toenail. You may even notice pus draining out from under your toenail.
There are several things that can cause an ingrown toenail, including:
- Having toenails that naturally curl under
- Wearing shoes that are too narrow for your toes
- Trimming your toenails too short
- Suffering a traumatic injury to your toes
- Bacterial or fungal toenail infections
To prevent ingrown toenails, remember to always trim your toenails straight across, with no rounded edges, and don’t cut them too short. Always wear shoes with a wide toe box, giving your toes plenty of room.
If you have an ingrown toenail, there are several easy treatments you can try at home. Consider:
- Soaking your toe in warm water every day
- Gently lifting your toenail up off of the skin
- Wearing open-toe shoes or sandals while your toe heals
For stubborn ingrown toenails that don’t respond to home treatments, it’s best to seek out your podiatrist. Dr. Vekkos may recommend a prescription-strength topical or oral antibiotics to eliminate any infection, or surgically removing all or part of your toenail to allow a healthy toenail to grow in its place.
You don’t have to suffer from an ingrown toenail. Your podiatrist can help. For more information about ingrown toenail causes, prevention, and treatment, call Dr. Leonard Vekkos at Foot & Ankle Wellness Center at Seven Bridges in Woodridge, IL. Call now, and help your feet!