An ingrown toenail can make simple tasks like standing or walking exceptionally difficult and painful. In short, an ingrown toenail occurs when the corner of a toenail begins to grow into the skin and is most common on the big toe. An ingrown toenail often occurs when a person is cutting their nail and curves the toenail in the shape of the toe instead of in a straight line. If an ingrown toenail is left untreated it can lead to a serious infection in the bloodstream that could result in even greater medical issues.
At the Kentucky Foot Doctor with offices in Louisville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Bardstown, KY, and New Albany, IN, Dr. Syed Khader and his team can properly assess your foot and help create a treatment plan.
Treating Ingrown Toenails at Home
Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home by soaking your foot in a warm water bath with Epsom salts. Soaking your foot for 15 minutes three to four times a day can reduce swelling and relieve inflammation by the ingrown nail. Other home remedies include taking over-the-counter pain relievers, applying an antibiotic cream, placing a piece of thin cotton over the edge of the nail to help it regrow above the skin line. If your condition worsens or fails to improve after a few days, it is time to see a podiatrist. Dr. Khader and the team at Kentucky Foot Doctor have offices conveniently located in Louisville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Bardstown, KY, and New Albany, IN.
Treating Ingrown Toenails with a Doctor
If it is determined that the toenail is infected, it may require surgical treatment to be removed. The procedure to remove an ingrown toenail is called a nail avulsion and ensures that the toenail is unable to grow inward towards the skin. If ingrown toenails is a chronic issue, the provider may permanently remove the nail.
At Kentucky Foot Doctor, Dr. Khader will help assess your foot to determine an appropriate treatment plan while walking you through all the options. To schedule an appointment at one of our Kentucky offices - Louisville, Elizabethtown, Bardstown, or Bowling Green - or at our New Albany, IN location give us a call at 844-692-3338.