Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails treatment in the Kings County, NY: Brooklyn (Midwood, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Bushwick, Park Slope, East New York, Williamsburg, Brighton Beach, Brownsville, Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights, Kensington), Richmond County, NY: St. George, Midland Beach, and Queens County, NY: Elmhurst, Maspeth, Forest Hills areas

Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a nail grows into the surrounding skin, rather than over it. This can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and tenderness of the surrounding area. In more severe cases, the area can become infected and lead to bleeding, oozing of pus, and fever, among other symptoms.

Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Most ingrown toenails are caused by improper trimming of the nails. Trimming your nails into a rounded shape or cutting them too short can lead to ingrown toenails. When trimming the toenails, it is suggested that you use nail clippers to trim the nails straight across. The nails’ length should be roughly even with the tips of your toes. Wearing shoes that are too tight and narrow in the toes can also lead to ingrown nails, as the tight shoes compress your toes and can cause the nails to dig into the skin. To avoid this, opt for shoes with a wide toe box.

Ingrown Toenails Treatment

Ingrown toenails are typically not serious and can be managed with home treatment. However, they can be dangerous for individuals who have underlying conditions such as diabetes, which can make foot wounds and infections more likely. Some people are also prone to ingrown toenails, and may require medical treatment. If you have painful or recurrent ingrown toenails, an infected nail, or an underlying condition that can impact your foot health, please seek the care of Dr. Emil Babayev, DPM.

Ingrown Toenails (FAQs)

What are ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of a nail grow into the surrounding skin, rather than over it. This can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, and redness around the affected nail. In some cases, the area can also become infected, leading to bleeding, oozing, and fever. 
What causes ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails are often caused by improperly trimming the toenails or wearing shoes that are too tight and narrow in the toe area. Past toe injuries and genetic factors can also make an ingrown toenail more likely to occur. 
What are the treatments for ingrown toenails? 
Treatments for ingrown toenails vary based on the severity of the condition. At home, you may be able to relieve pain and pressure from an ingrown toenail by soaking the affected toe in soapy water and then tucking a small piece of cotton under the edge of the ingrown toenail to encourage it to grow out. Using an antibiotic ointment on the nail can help reduce the risk of infection. It can also help to take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications and wear wide, comfortable shoes to reduce pain and pressure on the nail. At the doctor’s office, your podiatrist may be able to remove the ingrown part of the nail and give suggestions on how to prevent ingrown toenails in the future. 
How can ingrown toenails be prevented? 
There are several steps that you can take to prevent ingrown toenails. First, it is important to trim the toenails properly. Use a toenail clipper to trim each nail straight across. Avoid rounding the edges with clippers, nail scissors, or a nail file, as rounded toenail edges are more likely to grow into the surrounding skin. Trim your nails so that there is about 1 to 2 millimeters left at the end of the toenail. Cutting your toenails too short could also increase the risk of ingrown nails. Another thing that you can do is wear shoes that have a wide, comfortable toe area. This stops toenails from squishing against each other and the shoes. 

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