You might like your toenails trimmed short for aesthetic purposes, but if you cut your toenails too short you may be setting yourself up for an ingrown toenail. If it's too late, you have treatment options. Foot and ankle specialists, Drs.Jaymes and Angela Granata, at Battle Born Bone & Joint Center in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatments to relieve your toe discomfort. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail grows into the side of your flesh, causing a number of symptoms, including:
Once the symptoms begin, an infection may be right around the corner.
Ingrown toenails can occur on any toe, but are most common in the big toe.
There are a number of causes of ingrown toenails, including:
Dr. Granata recommends you try nonsurgical treatment methods for your ingrown toenail first, such as:
If you are experiencing increasing pain, redness, swelling, and discharge, you may be developing an infection. In this case, you should be evaluated immediately.
Treatment options may include partial or complete removal of the affected toenail, along with removal of the underlying nail bed and any of the affected soft tissue on the side of your nail.
Dr. Granata may recommend surgery if you have recurrent ingrown toenails.
Proper foot care, especially when it comes to trimming the toenails, may help you prevent an ingrown toenail from forming. Dr. Granata recommends:
If you have an ingrown toenail that’s causing discomfort or you’re prone to ingrown toenails, call the office or book an appointment online for an evaluation with Dr. Granata.