Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition that affects people of all ages. If you have diabetes or another health problem that affects your circulation, it may even increase your risk of infection or gangrene. At Podiatry Institute of the South, the team of board-certified podiatrists offers complete care for ingrown nails. They can recommend treatments to relieve the pain and help you feel better. Call the nearest office in Senatobia, Mississippi, West Memphis, Arkansas, or Memphis, Millington, or Bartlett, Tennessee, to make an appointment or book online today. 

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail occurs when your nail grows into the soft skin surrounding your nail bed instead of away from your toe. Without treatment, the nail grows further into your skin, causing redness, pain, and inflammation. 

Ingrown toenails typically aren’t a major concern, but if you have poor circulation, they can increase your risk of potentially serious problems, like an amputation.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

The symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:

• Pain and tenderness
• Inflamed skin
• Swelling
• Sensitivity

As the nail grows further into your skin, you might also notice that your toe oozes blood or pus.

Who is at risk of having an ingrown toenail?

Anyone can have an ingrown toenail, but several factors may increase your risk, including:

• Stubbing your toe
• Wearing shoes that press your toes together
• Nail infections
• Having curved toenails
• Having poor circulation

You’re also more likely to have an ingrown toenail if you cut your nails at an angle instead of straight across.

How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?

To diagnose an ingrown toenail, your Podiatry Institute of the South provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, they complete a podiatry exam, looking at your toe, toenail, and the surrounding skin. Your provider presses on your toe to identify sensitive areas and carefully moves it from side to side.

They also order diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or CT scans, to see how far the nail grows into your skin and determine if there’s an infection.

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

Treatment of an ingrown toenail depends on various factors, including your age, the severity of your symptoms, and if the nail is infected. Your Podiatry Institute of the South provider might recommend:

• Lifting the nail with a splint
• Taping the nail so it grows away from your skin
• Partially removing the nail
• Wearing shoes with a wide toe box

If you regularly experience an ingrown nail on the same toe, the team might recommend surgery. During ingrown toenail surgery, your podiatrist uses special tools to completely remove your affected nail.

Call the nearest Podiatry Institute of the South office to receive treatment for an ingrown toenail or book online today.