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Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown Toenail services offered in Brooklyn, NY
Ingrown toenails may be painful as well as increase your risk for a severe infection. At LaSante Health Center in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens area of Brooklyn, the experienced team offers quality ingrown toenail care to protect your feet and overall health. For an appointment, call the office in New York City or schedule online today.
Ingrown Toenail Q & A
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail is a problem with the way the toenail grows outside the borders of the nail bed and into the surrounding soft tissue of the toe. Ingrown toenails can cause irritation, pain, and inflammation.
While you can get an ingrown toenail on any of your toes, the big toe is at the highest risk because the nail naturally grows at an angle and can easily extend past the nail bed.
An untreated ingrown toenail may progress to a severe infection, which could potentially spread past the foot into the leg and your bloodstream.
What causes an ingrown toenail?
Ingrown toenails occur when something affects the growth of the nail, like when you trim your nails too short or round the corners of the nail. Other potential causes that can hinder your toenail’s growth include:
- Toenail fungus
- Toe or foot trauma
- Improperly fitting shoes
- Toenail trauma, such as stubbing your toe
- Poor toenail or foot hygiene
Some people are more susceptible to ingrown toenails genetically, while others may be at higher risk due to chronic conditions like diabetes or vascular disease.
What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?
If you have an ingrown toenail, you may have symptoms such as:
- Throbbing pain or severe tenderness
- Heat, swelling, and redness
- Discoloration of the nail
- Oozing from the edge of the nail
- Pain while wearing shoes
- Pain when bearing weight
Ingrown toenails may progress quickly, so if you think you have an ingrown toenail, you should get an assessment sooner than later. If you have vascular problems or diabetes, it is even more critical that you see a provider at LaSante Health Center soon.
What are the treatments for an ingrown toenail?
If you have an ingrown toenail, your provider initially does a thorough assessment and creates a personalized plan of care for you. Your treatment plan may include:
- Epsom salt soak
- Oral antibiotics
- Toenail splint
- Partial or complete toenail removal
If your ingrown toenail is recurrent or severely infected, surgical removal may be the best treatment. Typically, your provider at LaSante Health Center performs this procedure in the office after numbing your toe. Total recovery takes about 2-3 days.
If you have an ingrown toenail, call or schedule an appointment online with LaSante Health Center today.