Ingrown toenails tend to be very painful. Luckily, there is a method you can try in order to get rid of them. Soaking your feet in warm water with Epsom salt once or twice a day can help alleviate pain caused by ingrown toenails. You can also insert a strand of dental floss between the corner of the nail and the skin in order to aid in outgrowing the nail. Doing this for a few days in a row will help get rid of your ingrown toenail. After the nail grows out, cut your toenails by trimming straight across, and you won’t have to deal with your ingrown toenail any longer.
Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Ronald Sheppard of Warren-Watchung Podiatry Center. Our doctorwill answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.
Causes
- Bacterial infections
- Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
- Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
- Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
- Genetic predisposition
Prevention
Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.
Treatment
Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.
If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Marlboro and Watchung, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
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