If you lead a physically active lifestyle or have especially sweaty feet, you’re also more likely to develop an ingrown toenail. Fortunately, this common podiatric problem is relatively easy to treat. The team at Edmond Norman Foot and Ankle in Edmond, Norman, Chickasha, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, regularly works with patients of all ages to treat and relieve pain and other problems caused by ingrown toenails. To request your consultation, call the office or click the online booking tool today.
An ingrown toenail occurs when your toenail curves down and grows into the surrounding skin. This is in contrast to your nail growing out and away from your nail bed.
As the condition progresses, your toe becomes red, swollen, and in some cases, infected. Ingrown toenails can occur on any of your toes, but they’re especially common on your big toes.
The symptoms of an ingrown toenail depend on the severity of the condition. However, telltale signs include:
As the condition progresses, you might also notice pus oozing out of your affected toenail or have trouble putting weight on the affected toe.
Ingrown toenails affect people of all ages and genders. However, certain factors can increase your risk, including:
You’re also more likely to develop an ingrown toenail if you cut your nails at an angle instead of straight across.
Most ingrown toenails are nothing to worry about and resolve on their own with over-the-counter medications or when you wear shoes that have a large toe box. However, if you have diabetes or another chronic condition that affects your circulation, you’re at a higher risk of developing an infection.
You might also develop a foot ulcer or gangrene, which occurs due to an interruption of blood flow to one or more parts of your body.
To diagnose an ingrown toenail, the team at Edmond Norman Foot and Ankle performs a physical exam of your toes and feet, reviews your medical history, and asks about your symptoms. If necessary, they might also order a series of X-rays to get a closer look at the bones in your toes and feet.
If conservative measures of treatment such as changing shoes or the way you cut your nails don’t provide relief, your podiatrist might recommend lifting your nail, partially removing the nail, or removing your nail and the surrounding tissue entirely. If you’ve developed an infection, the team might also recommend a round of topical or oral antibiotics to prevent further irritation.
To get relief from your ingrown toenail, make an appointment at Edmond Norman Foot and Ankle by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool today.
