Anybody, regardless of age or gender, can have painful and uncomfortable ingrown toenails. An ingrown toenail develops when the nail’s edge burrows into the skin, resulting in swelling, discomfort, and infection. A professional should seek ingrown toenail therapy to avoid future issues, despite the temptation to attempt home treatment.
Symptoms of an Ingrown Toenail & When to Visit a Podocratician
Individuals may have different indicators of an ingrown toenail, but some typical symptoms include discomfort, redness, swelling, and soreness around the affected toenail. Moreover, the area near the nail may develop an infection, resulting in discharge and an unpleasant odour.
If you encounter any of the following symptoms, getting professional ingrown toenail treatment is critical: the presence of pus or other infection-related symptoms like discharge. Moreover, consult a podiatrist if you have persistent or recurrent ingrown toenails or trouble walking or donning shoes.
A podiatrist can offer pain relief, infection prevention, and healing enhancement to treat ingrown toenails. Depending on how bad the ingrown toenail is, various treatment options could be used, such as the following:
- Bandaging and Soaking
Warm water soaks and sterile bandages may be adequate for treating minor ingrown toenail instances. You can avoid infection and reduce inflammation as a result.
- OTC Antibiotics
The podiatrist may suggest oral medicines if the ingrown toenail gets infected to help clear the infection and stop it from spreading.
- Removal of a Few Nails
A portion of the toenail may need a removal process by the podiatrist if the ingrown toenail is severe to stop it from growing back into the skin. The associated nail part gets removed during this treatment, which needs a local anesthetic presence.
- Complete Removal of Nails
Rarely, a severe ingrown toenail may require a podiatrist to remove the entire toenail. The whole nail and nail bed requires a removal step during this treatment, which needs a local anesthetic presence.
How to Avoid Ingrown Toenails
Although ingrown toenails can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, there are precautions you can take to reduce your chance of getting them in the first place. Ensuring your toenails get cut as needed is one of the best strategies to avoid ingrown ones. While trimming your nails, cut them straight across rather than curling them. Your toenail edges won’t irritate your skin as much if you do this.
The prevention of ingrown toenails also depends on wearing shoes that fit correctly. If your shoes are too small or tight, your toes may get pressed into the skin and experience pain. Instead, choose footwear that gives your toes room to spread apart.
Good foot hygiene is crucial for preventing ingrown toenails and correcting nail care and footwear. Make sure to dry your feet after every soap and water wash completely. Maintaining clean, dry feet can help stop infections that cause ingrown toenails.
It might be a good idea to visit a podiatrist for treatment if you frequently experience ingrown toenails and advice on avoiding them in the future.
Although ingrown toenails can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, you can get professional treatment to eliminate your symptoms and prevent subsequent problems. However, ingrown toenails are simple to treat if treated early. Starting treatment at the right time is also key. Getting expert care from a podiatrist is crucial if you are exhibiting signs of an ingrown toenail. You can maintain your feet’ health and pain-free condition with the proper care and precautions.