An ingrown toenail can cause your surrounding skin to swell, making exercising, walking, and even standing unbearable. At Mesilla Valley Footcare in Las Cruces, New Mexico, experienced podiatrists Rolando Cadena, DPM, and Clair Cadena Miranda, DPM, use the latest solutions to treat ingrown toenails and stop them from coming back. Call today or use the online booking tool to schedule an ingrown toenail consultation.
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.
Ingrown toenails look like your nail is growing into your surrounding skin. The main symptoms of ingrown toenails are:
When you have an ingrown toenail, wearing tight, heeled, or narrow shoes can be especially painful and may even worsen the condition.
Anybody can get ingrown toenails, but some people are more likely to experience them than others. Common risk factors for ingrown toenails include:
People with diabetes are also more likely to get ingrown toenails and develop complications.
To help prevent ingrown toenail, you should:
If you get recurrent ingrown toenails, Dr. Cadena and Dr. Miranda can help at Mesilla Valley Footcare.
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.
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.