Ingrown toenails result from the sides of your toenails digging into the skin and growing in an inward direction. This leads to inflammation, big toe numbness, and pain, which will require you to see a specialist in ingrown toenail in Midtown East for treatment such as clipping away the nail, removing it completely, administering a shot of anesthetic to numb the pain, or doing a procedure which is called a ‘matricectomy.’
No matter what kind of treatment you receive depends on how severe your case of ingrown toenails is. You can treat a mild case without surgery if it has been caught early enough, while someone experiencing a severe issue might require some surgical procedure.
Causes of Ingrown Toenails
One of the most common causes of ingrown toenails is cutting your nails too short. Over time, sharp edges will form on the sides of your toenails which can turn into infected bumps if not treated immediately. A good rule of thumb that doctors recommend is to cut off the corners and round them off instead of cutting straight across. Also, make sure that you do not cut your nails too short as well.
Another cause might be inappropriate footwear such as shoes that fit poorly or tight, narrow toe boxes that can press against the sides of your toes and cause discomfort and ingrown toenails.
Ingrown toenails can develop in the middle of the grow, which is called onychogryphosis. This can occur if your nail grows faster than usual, resulting in your nail digging into the skin at the side, or an injury could cause it during an activity such as playing sports.
Treatment of Ingrown Toenails
If you have a mild case of ingrown toenails, treatment usually involves clipping off the corners of your toenails. You want to make sure that you don’t clip too close to the skin, as this could cause pain, and an infection can occur. After clipping, soak your feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt for about 20 minutes, making it easier to remove the nail, cleanse your skin, and reduce inflammation. In addition to clipping, don’t wear tight or ill-fitting shoes as this can cause discomfort and ingrown toenails.
Suppose your ingrown toenails are caused by an underlying condition, such as fungal infection or diabetes. In that case, you must see your podiatrist, who can recommend the best treatment for you. If not treated immediately, there is a chance that the fungus could spread, which will be very difficult to treat because of immune problems.
Another surgical procedure that might be necessary is a partial matricectomy, which involves removing the nail matrix. This is usually only done if you have severe ingrown toenails and the other methods have not worked.
In summary, ingrown toenails result from the sides of your toenails digging into the skin and growing inwardly. They are caused by cutting your nails too short and inappropriate footwear. Treatments include surgery for severe cases, clipping off the nails’ edges, and wearing perfectly fitting shoes.
