Ingrown Toenails Specialist
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Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center
Podiatrist located in Beltsville, MD
If you cut your toenails at an angle or wear shoes that crowd your toes, you’re also more likely to experience an ingrown nail. Though the condition isn’t usually serious, diabetes or another circulatory issue can increase your risk of infection. At Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center, experienced podiatrist David Deiboldt, DPM, specializes in treating ingrown toenails. To make an appointment in Beltsville, Maryland, call the office or click the online booking feature today.
Ingrown Toenails Q & A
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when your nail grows into the soft skin around it instead of away from your toe. Most ingrown nails heal on their own with at-home treatments, but if you have a medical condition that affects your circulation, you’re more likely to experience complications like gangrene.
If you have an ingrown toenail that affects your mobility or daily routine, make an appointment at Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center.
What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?
Symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Inflamed skin
- Swelling
As the condition gets worse, you might also develop an infection.
What causes ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails occur for various reasons, including:
- Having curved toenails
- Cutting your nails at an angle
- Wearing shoes that push your toes together
- Injuring your toenail
Certain medical conditions can also increase your risk of an ingrown toenail, including diabetes and chronic venous insufficiency.
Can ingrown toenails be prevented?
There’s no way to prevent an ingrown toenail entirely, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk significantly. Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center recommends keeping your toenails trimmed, inspecting your feet regularly, and wearing comfortable shoes that have plenty of room.
If you work a job that increases your risk of a toe-related injury, it’s also a good idea to wear steel-toe boots or another type of protective footwear.
How are ingrown toenails diagnosed?
To diagnose an ingrown toenail, your provider at Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center has you remove your sock and shoe and physically examines your foot. Ingrown toenails are visible to the eye, but your provider might also order a series of X-rays to determine how far the nail grows into your skin.
How are ingrown toenails treated?
Treatment of an ingrown toenail depends on the severity of your symptoms and if the nail is infected. Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center might recommend:
Lifting the nail
If your nail isn’t infected, your provider lifts it. To do that, they use a piece of dental floss or cotton to push your nail up and away from your skin. This allows the nail to grow outward and away from your toe.
Partially removing the nail
If you have a nail with a mild infection, your provider might remove a portion of it. During this type of treatment, your provider numbs your toe, carefully trims away the piece of nail growing into your skin, bandages it, and provides care instructions.
Removing the nail completely
If you regularly experience ingrown nails on the same toe, your provider might recommend removing the nail entirely. To do that, your provider numbs your toe with a local anesthetic and uses a special laser to remove your nail and the dead tissue underneath.
To see if you can benefit from treatment for an ingrown toenail, make an appointment at Beltsville Foot and Ankle Center by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.
