Take good care of your feet! This will allow them to effectively support your body when performing activities that require you to be on your feet for both short and long periods. Ingrown toenails can significantly hamper the ability to perform these activities and cause severe pain. Some good news is that ingrown toenails are usually an easy fix. Our providers Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas from Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists are experienced in treating ingrown toenails in Williamsburg, or Hamptom, VA.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail has begun to dig into the skin of the nailbed. One toe or multiple toes at the same time can have a toenail that is growing into the skin. The problems caused by ingrown toenails will generally be located at the sides and corners of your toenail. Wearing ill-fitting shoes is the most common cause of ingrown toenails. Other causes may be:
- Clipping your toenails incorrectly
- Trauma to the foot, such as stubbing the toe or if something were to fall on your foot
- Tear of a toenail
- Congenital conditions such as a deformity of the foot may lead to developing ingrown toenails.
- You may have also been born with nails that grow to larger sizes than the toe can accommodate.
What Are the Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails?
The main symptom of ingrown toenails will be pain. The area surrounding the toenail may appear hard and swollen at first. If not treated promptly, this can lead to an infection. Some other symptoms that may develop are:
- Pus seeping from the area
- Redness of the toe or other discoloration
- Warmth and swelling of the toe
What Are Treatments for Ingrown Toenails?
Treatment for ingrown toenails will be chosen based on the severity. When an ingrown toenail is caught early on, it can usually be treated at home. This is unless an infection has developed in the area. More severe cases that have been left untreated for some time may require minor surgery to remove a part of the toenail, but this is rare.
If you have other diagnoses of conditions that may cause nerve damage or affect circulation, such as diabetes, you must see a podiatrist immediately. Always be sure to inspect your feet daily for changes or abnormalities of the feet. Conservative measures recommended by our team include:
- Wearing shoes that are roomy in the toe area.
- Soak your feet in warm water before clipping your toenails.
- Clean your nail clipper before using it.
- NSAIDs like Ibuprofen may help with pain and swelling
- If you have diabetes, practice proper foot care as recommended by your doctor.
- Call your doctor if symptoms don't go away in several days.
Contact Us
Our providers from Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists are skilled at treating ingrown toenails in Williamsburg, or Hamptom, VA. Contact us for an appointment with one of our podiatrists Dr. Sara Bouraee, Dr. Jon Houseworth, Dr. Sun Byun, Dr. Daria Piotrowksi, and Dr. Shruti Vyas. Reach us at our Hampton office at (757) 224-7605 or our Williamsburg location at (757) 220-3311.