What is an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. Ingrowing nails can cause pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes infection. There are many ways to treat an ingrown toenail, Dr. Sklar at Boynton Podiatry Associates will discuss with you your treatment options to help you pick the right treatment option.

A common cause of foot pain: an ingrown nail occurs when the sides or corners of nails -- typically on the big toes -- grow into the adjacent flesh. Although they can be incredibly painful, they are typically easy to treat.

Ingrown Toenail Symptoms In most cases, patients feel acute sharp pain along the edges of the affected toenails. Other symptoms may occur, such as:

• Swelling of the toe
• Redness near the edges of the toenail
• Oozing pus or bleeding
• Infection of the tissue surrounding the toenail

What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenails can be associated with ill-fitting footwear that may be too tight, narrow or too small for your foot causing excessive pressure on the toenail. Other common ingrown toenail causes include:

• Improper toenail trimming
• Toe injuries
• Sudden stops in basketball, baseball and other sports
• Stubbed toes or other forms of trauma
• Bulbous toe shape
• Fungal infections

Correct identification is important, as is targeted preventative measures.

Ingrown Toenails: Dr. Sklar’s Approach

With mild ingrown nails, Dr. Sklar without an injection can gently cut the corner out to temporally relieve your painful condition. In a moderate to severe cases, a portion of the ingrown toenail should be surgically removed. A numbing injection will be used to any the pain prior to removing the corner of the nail that is ingrown.

If your problem occurs repeatedly on the same toe, an additional procedure may be required where some of the underlying nail matrix may also be destroyed to prevent nail regrowth. This is called a partial matrixectomy which will prevent regrowth of this tender portion of the nail. Dr Sklar post nail surgery instructions and prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic.

Dr. Sklar understands the extreme pain and suffering experienced by patients with ingrown toenails. Your condition and concerns can quickly be resolved. In addition to providing effective treatments for ingrown toenails, Dr. Sklar offers guidance and education, thereby minimizing future ingrown nail problems. Look to Dr. Sklar and his trained staff as a source of healing and knowledge.

Call (561) 666-9932 today to book an appointment!

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