Ingrown Toenail
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Oklahoma Foot and Ankle Institute
Podiatrists & Foot & Ankle Surgeon located in Del City, OK
If you notice some redness and swelling next to your toenail, and it throbs with the slightest amount of pressure, you may have an ingrown toenail. Because the leading podiatrists at Oklahoma Foot and Ankle Institute know that leaving an ingrown toenail untreated can lead to a serious infection, they offer flexible scheduling for ingrown toenail treatments. Book your ingrown toenail evaluation at our Del City-based podiatry practice online or over the phone.
Ingrown Toenail Q & A
Why do I keep getting ingrown toenails?
Most men and women develop an ingrown toenail at some point in life. But for some, this painful issue is more common. One of the top causes of an ingrown toenail is improper trimming. If you round out your toenail edges, cut your toenails too short, or tear your toenails, as they grow, they start digging into your skin.
It’s also typical to have ingrown toenails on a regular basis if you have abnormally curved nails. These aren’t the only issues that lead to ingrown toenails, though. Sometimes ingrown toenails occur due to:
- Snug-fitting shoes with little room in the toe box
- Frequent fungal nail infections
- Nail trauma or injury
If you suspect you have an ingrown toenail, it’s important to have it properly treated as soon as symptoms start.
What are the symptoms of ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails can cause minor discomfort that feels more like a nuisance than a concern. If left untreated, that ingrown toenail continues to progress, which can lead to:
- Swelling and tenderness
- Redness and irritation
- Oozing pus
These symptoms indicate that you might have an underlying infection that has the potential to lead to a serious bone infection if you don’t get it treated.
How are ingrown toenails treated?
The top-rated podiatrists at Oklahoma Foot and Ankle Institute offer in-office ingrown toenail treatments, so you can often get treated the same day as your evaluation. Most ingrown toenail treatments involve removing the ingrown part of your nail.
After numbing your toe, your podiatrist partially removes the portion of your nail that continues digging into your skin. This ingrown toenail surgery, known as a matrixectomy, is sometimes performed with the state-of-the-art HyperBlue 1530 multi-use diode laser system, depending on your specific condition.
If ingrown toenails continue coming back no matter how hard you work to properly care for your toenails, your podiatrist may recommend a permanent solution. They can remove the nail entirely — you’re thoroughly numbed so you can’t feel a thing — and treat the growth matrix with a chemical or laser to stop future growth.
Schedule your ingrown toenail evaluation at Oklahoma Foot and Ankle Institute today. Click on the online scheduler or call your nearest clinic directly.
