Ingrown Nails Specialist

What are ingrown nails?

Ingrown toenails develop when the corner or side of a toenail grows into the surrounding soft tissue. The result often causes pain, swelling, redness, or even infection. Ingrown nails commonly affect big toes. 

Ingrown toenails sometimes go away with proper at-home care, but if not, Dr. Chambers offers medical treatments to speed up healing. 

Chambers Foot & Ankle can get patients scheduled typically within 24 hours to have them feeling better as quickly as possible.

What are the symptoms of ingrown nails?

Common symptoms of ingrown toenails include:

• Toe pain
• Tenderness
• Redness
• Swelling
• Infection
• Pus 

When left untreated, serious ingrown toenails can even infect the underlying bone. Complications linked with ingrown toenails are usually more severe if you have diabetes, which can cause poor blood flow and nerve damage.

What are the risk factors for ingrown nails?

Ingrown toenails are common and can happen to anyone, but some factors increase your risk of experiencing them. Examples include:

• Wearing shoes that don’t fit well
• Cutting your toenails too short
• Not cutting your toenails straight across
• Having curved toenails
• Toenail injuries

Ways to reduce your risk of ingrown toenails include trimming toenails straight across, keeping your toenails at a moderate length, checking your feet regularly if you have diabetes, and wearing shoes that fit properly. 

How does a podiatrist diagnose ingrown toenails?

To diagnose ingrown toenails, Dr. Chambers reviews your medical history, discusses symptoms, and examines your toes and nails. He lets you know if an ingrown toenail is the cause of your discomfort and develops an effective treatment plan.

What are common treatments for ingrown nails?

Your ingrown toenail treatment depends on the severity of your condition. Dr. Chambers may recommend:

Home remedies

Soak your feet in warm water for 15-20 minutes several times a day to reduce swelling and tenderness. Use antibiotic cream, wear shoes that fit properly, and put cotton or dental floss underneath the affected nail to help it grow above the edge of your skin.

Medications

Dr. Chambers lets you know which oral or topical medications to try to reduce the risk of infection and speed up healing.

Medical treatments

If you have a severe or very painful ingrown toenail, Dr. Chambers offers a variety of treatments. He can lift the nail to separate it from overlying skin, partially remove your nail, or remove the entire nail and surrounding tissue if needed.

Don’t live with painful or debilitating ingrown nails when simple treatments can reduce discomfort and help them heal properly. Call Chambers Foot & Ankle to schedule an appointment or request one online today.