Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are a condition we see on a daily basis at the office. The condition is also very frequently diagnosed among podiatrists. An ingrown toenail develops on the corner or side of one of the toenails, and grows into the soft flesh. They happen more often on the big toe, however, any of your toenails can become ingrown. Sometimes you can take care of your ingrown toenails by yourself, but if the pain becomes unbearable and spreads then you may want to come into our office. For example, if you are having severe discomfort, pus or redness in the affected area, then you would want to see Dr. Blaakman. We want to help you avoid any complications which may arise because of an ingrown toenail.
CAUSES FOR INGROWN TOENAILS INCLUDE:
- Tight shoes, which cause your toes together
- Not cutting your toenails correctly
- An injury to the toenails – such as stubbing your toe or the toe being stepped on
- Congenital condition
- Thickened nails due to aging
- Poor arch support
- Activities where you kick or put pressure on your feet repeatedly such as football or ballet
SYMPTOMS FOR INGROWN TOENAILS INCLUDE:
Ingrown toenails can be painful and symptoms usually worsen in stages
- Pain and tenderness along one or both sides of the affected toe
- Pain when pressure is applied to the toe
- Swelling of both the toe and nail
- Possible redness or drainage to the toenail – in particular on the big toe
- Infected tissue around the toenail
PREVENTION FOR INGROWN TOENAILS INCLUDES:
- Select shoes that will provide an ample amount of space for your toes
- Cut toenails straight across
- Make sure your toenails are not cut too short – your toenails should be even with the tips of your toes
- Keep your feet clean and dry – dry between your toes after washing feet
- Check your feet daily for any unusual bumps or redness (especially important if you are a person with diabetes)
HOW DR. BLAAKMAN TREATS THE CONDITION:
When a patient visits our office, Dr. Blaakman will examine the feet, and will be able to determine treatment options based on the evaluation. We treat patients who have ingrown toenails with local anesthesia in the office, and removal of the affected border. The success rate for this condition is excellent as it gets rid of the nail edge from growing inward into the fleshy area. Many of our patients do very well with this condition after removal. Downtime for the procedure is often only a few days, and sometimes less than that. Most people return to their normal activity within 24 hours. However, if the condition is not treated there could be significant complications, such as a worsening infection, and increased pain. The condition is not often treatable at home, although some patients have tried soaking and use of topical antibiotics, but those were unsuccessful. After at home treatments, patients usually end up at their doctor’s office for partial nail removal. Your best bet would be coming into our office and having an examination of your feet. We will walk through the process with you, and help you understand what your options are.
Ingrown toenails are never pretty and usually are very painful. Don’t live with them, let us help you! Upstate Footcare treats patients in Gaffney, Duncan and services patients from Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Greer and surrounding areas. Dr. Blaakman and his team provide relief from this painful condition and instruct patients in helping prevent further issues.