Ingrown Toenails

What are ingrown toenails?

An ingrown toenail, also called onychocryptosis, causes the edge of your nail to dig into your surrounding skin. While ingrown toenails can affect any nail, they most commonly develop in your big toe. 

Without proper treatment, an ingrown toenail can break your skin, leaving an opening for bacteria to enter your body. 

What do ingrown toenails look and feel like?

Ingrown toenails look like your nail is growing into your surrounding skin. The main symptoms of ingrown toenails are:

• Sensitivity to pressure, especially when wearing shoes
• Inflammation leading to warmth and redness
• Pus or drainage in more severe cases
• Bleeding
• Development of a bump
• Changes in nail shape
• Painful walking
• Foul odor (in cases of infection)
• Difficulty trimming nails

When you have an ingrown toenail, wearing tight, heeled, or narrow shoes can be especially painful and may even worsen the condition.

Who gets ingrown toenails?

Anybody can get ingrown toenails, but some people are more likely to experience them than others. Common risk factors for ingrown toenails include:

• Improper nail trimming
• Tight-fitting footwear
• Genetics
• Bunions, hammer toes, and other structural abnormalities
• Stubbing or injuring the toe
• Excessive sweating 
• Older age

People with diabetes are also more likely to get ingrown toenails and develop complications.

How can I prevent ingrown toenails?

To help prevent ingrown toenail, you should:

• Trim your nails straight across instead of rounded
• Choose shoes with a wide toe box
• Keep your feet clean and dry
• Trim your toenails regularly
• Wear protective footwear to avoid injuries

If you get recurrent ingrown toenails, Dr. Cadena and Dr. Miranda can help at Mesilla Valley Footcare.

Can I treat ingrown toenails at home?

You can treat mild ingrown toenails at home if they’ve only recently developed. Soak your affected foot in warm, soapy water for about 15-20 minutes and gently pull the skin away from the nail’s edge. 

More advanced ingrown toenails require professional treatment to relieve pain and prevent infection.

What are the in-office treatments for ingrown toenails?

Dr. Cadena and Dr. Miranda offer many topical and prescription treatments to target ingrown toenails. If conservative therapies don’t work effectively, they may recommend lifting or partially removing the affected nail. They may also apply an antibiotic to your skin to prevent infection. In advanced cases, they may recommend removing the entire nail to treat an ingrown toenail.

Call Mesilla Valley Footcare today or use the online booking tool to schedule an ingrown toenail consultation.