It’s important that you’re taking proper care of your feet so that you can avoid injury or pain. When you don’t take proper care of your toenails, you can be at risk for an ingrown toenail. This is when the toenail seems to grow into the side of the skin and presses against it, causing infection and pain. Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas at Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, can explain what you should do for an ingrown toenail and how you can ease the pain you may experience with one.
What to Do for an Ingrown Toenail
When left alone, an ingrown toenail can cause irritation and infection. When you’re experiencing pain from an ingrown toenail, your podiatrist in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, can recommend some home remedies that you can try to reduce some of the pain you’re dealing with.
You may want to soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 10-20 minutes several times a day. After each soaking, you can put fresh cotton or dental floss under toenail to help the nail properly grow above the edge of the skin. You should also wear open-toed shoes that don’t press against your toe whenever possible. This can help reduce some of the pressure on your toe and reduce infection. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
When your toe isn’t responding to conservative treatments, your doctor may need to perform certain procedures to help your nail grow properly. They may have to slightly lift the nail to ensure that it grows above the edge of the skin. They may also tape the nail to remove it from the edge of the skin.
In severe cases, you may need surgery to partially or completely remove the nail to help it regrow properly.
Contact Your Podiatrist Today!
Don’t let an ingrown toenail continue causing pain! Contact Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas at Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, to learn how to treat ingrown toenails. Call for more information today at (757) 220-3311 for the office in Williamsburg, VA, and (757) 224-7605 for the office in Hampton, VA.