Ingrown toenails occur when the corner of your nail grows downward instead of outward. This can be caused by wearing shoes that are too small, or cutting your toenails improperly. The first step to getting rid of an ingrown toenail is to pull the nail away from the skin. Prior to doing this, you should soak the affected toe in saltwater for 10-15 minutes in order to reduce swelling. If your attempt to remove the ingrown toenail at home doesn’t work, you should go see a podiatrist.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Rosa Roman of Ankle & Foot Center. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bloomfield, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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