What are ingrown nails?
Ingrown nails occur when a nail grows into the flesh around it rather than over it. This happens most often in the big toe. Ingrown nails are a common condition that can become extremely painful and could become infected if proper treatment isn’t sought.
What causes ingrown nails?
There are several reasons nails become ingrown:
- Improper footwear with a cramped toe box, which doesn’t allow for proper nail growth.
- Cutting the nails too close to the skin, which can cause them to grow under the flesh.
- Trauma to the toe, causing irregular nail growth.
- Abnormally shaped nail plates or nail folds.
- A bacterial infection.
What are the symptoms of ingrown nails?
Ingrown nails are distinguished by pain along the side or sides of the affected nail. This pain increases with the continued wearing of ill-fitting shoes. Often, the pain is so intense that even the slightest pressure can cause extreme discomfort.
Signs of infection in the nail area may also be symptoms of an ingrown nail. Redness, swelling and the discharge of pus should call for a medical exam by a dermatologist or podiatrist.
What is the best treatment for ingrown nails?
The first-step approach is to avoid shoes that are too tight around the toes. For mild cases of ingrown nails, patients can try soaking the toe in warm water at home with salts, and applying an antibacterial ointment at the edges of the nail to soften the nail and reduce the risk of infection.
If at-home methods don’t work, it’s best to see a doctor who will decide on the best treatment. Options could include:
Lifting the nail. For a slightly ingrown nail, your Forefront provider may lift the edge of the nail and place cotton or a splint under it to separate the nail from the skin. This helps the nail grow above the skin edge, which usually takes between 2 and 12 weeks. At home, you'll need to soak the toe and replace the material daily. Your health care provider might also prescribe a corticosteroid cream to apply after soaking.
Removing part of the nail. If the skin around the nail is inflamed and severe pain and pus are present, your provider may numb the toe and trim or remove the ingrown portion of the nail. It might take 2 to 4 months for your toenail to grow back.
Removing the nail and tissue. If the nail grows back and continues to grow under the skin, your provider can remove a portion of the nail along with the underlying tissue. This is recommended to prevent that part of the nail from growing back. The toe will be numbed and a chemical, laser, or another removal method will be used. If this happens, you can take a pain reliever as needed, rest and elevate the toe for at least 12 hours, and apply a wet compress for a few minutes for a few days until swelling goes down.
Who can provide ingrown nail treatment?
Treatment of ingrown nails depends on the severity of the case. Some general practitioners can treat mild cases, while podiatrists and dermatologists can treat more severe cases. Forefront providers are skilled in surgical nail procedures including ingrown toenail removal. To schedule an appointment at a Forefront location near you, contact us today.
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