| Almost everyone, at one time or another in their life, | | | | antiseptic once a day |
| has suffered from an ingrown toenail. Often, this first | | | | 4. Soak your toe for 15 minutes in Epsom salt and |
| occurs during adolescence, but can occur at any age. | | | | warm water, then cut the nail straight across (do not |
| The toenail curves into the skin, causing redness, | | | | dig in the corner) and gently massage the skin away |
| irritation and pain. Most kids don't complain until their | | | | from the nail. Remember that the old wives tale of |
| toe is swollen, red, and dripping pus! Don't worry, | | | | cutting a notch in the toenail rarely works |
| Mom, they hide it until they can't stand the pain | | | | If this doesn't work, call your podiatrist (not your |
| anymore. Some older kids (yes, I mean you!) do the | | | | pedicurist!) and make an appointment. Don't wait until |
| same thing with their spouses. Don't delay ingrown | | | | the pain is so bad that you dread even putting your |
| toenail treatment, you don't have to live with the | | | | shoe on. |
| pain. There are answers, and they are simple, when | | | | Surgical solutions are commonly needed because |
| the toenail is first aggravated, and becomes more | | | | most people will delay care until the toe is significantly |
| complex the nastier the infection. In diabetics and | | | | infected. Surgical decompression of the infection, with |
| those patients with poor circulation, an ingrown | | | | removal of the nail spicule, is usually needed; followed |
| toenail can lead to a toe amputation. Seek treatment | | | | by a permanent nail ablation procedure utilizing a |
| when it is a minor annoyance! | | | | chemical, laser, or other technique to remove the nail |
| What causes ingrown toenails? You can blame Mom | | | | root in chronic cases. Antibiotics are often prescribed |
| and Dad for having slightly deformed toenails from | | | | and local wound care is needed to treat the surgical |
| birth. It can also occur from trauma, shoe pressure | | | | wound and infection after surgery. |
| and toenails that are improperly cut; usually too short | | | | Even in the worst cases of ingrown toenails, most |
| Onychomycosis or fungus in your toenails can also | | | | people are back to activity in just a few hours or |
| cause ingrown toenails and tight or narrow shoes can | | | | days depending on pain tolerance and the extent of |
| also be to blame. | | | | the infection. In rare cases, the infection is so bad |
| Simple solutions to controlling ingrown toenail: | | | | that hospitalization and IV antibiotics are needed to |
| 1. Treatment for ingrown toenails can be as easy as | | | | avoid losing your toe to amputation. |
| reducing the pressure on the skin by trimming the | | | | Bottom line: seek medical attention early in the case |
| toenail (with sterile instruments, not in your | | | | of ingrown toenails. Repeated nail trimming in your |
| bathroom!)and then as the toenail grows, encourage | | | | bathroom leads to significant deformity and infection |
| the skin away from the leading edge. | | | | of the nail. Call or contact the office for an |
| 2. Try a shoe with more toe room or a bigger toe | | | | appointment. Don't mess around with ingrown |
| box. | | | | toenails! |
| 3. Clean the area with antibacterial soap and apply | | | | |