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Ingrown Toenail

Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails are common and affect a majority of people at some point in their life. While you can treat your ingrown toenail at home, you’re better off getting professional help to prevent complications. The experienced team at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers in Columbus and Reynoldsburg, Ohio, which includes David Kaplansky, DPM and Anthony Cozzolino, DPM, can provide you with the care you need so your ingrown toenail doesn’t lead to other issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail develops when your toenail grows into the surrounding skin. You may develop an ingrown toenail from:

  • Improper nail trimming
  • Inherited foot deformity
  • Injury
  • Fungal infection
  • Pressure from your shoes

Your ingrown toenail can cause a break in the skin that may lead to an infection. To prevent complications from your ingrown toenail, you should have it properly evaluated by the specialists at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers. It’s especially important to get foot care from the podiatric specialists if you have a history of diabetes.

Pain along the edge where the nail has entered your skin is usually the first sign that you have an ingrown toenail. You may also experience redness and swelling, and it may be difficult to wear certain shoes or even walk. If the toe becomes infected, it may feel warm to the touch and drain fluid or pus.
Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers develops a personalized treatment plan for your ingrown toenail based on your medical history and the severity of the ingrown toenail, whether it’s infected or not. If your nail isn’t infected, your specialist may be able to simply trim the corner of your nail to relieve your symptoms. Your specialist can also remove the side of your ingrown toenail at the root to prevent further problems. This procedure is performed at the office under local anesthesia. If your ingrown toenail is infected, your specialist prescribes an antibiotic to clear up the infection.
After treatment, your specialist provides instructions on how to prevent future ingrown toenails. This may include teaching you how to properly trim your nails to prevent it from growing into your skin. You also want to be careful with your shoes and socks. Your feet need room and you shouldn’t wear shoes or socks that crowd your toes. You also want to avoid shoes that are too big because they can increase pressure on the toes, which may lead to an ingrown toenail.