Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is surprisingly painful if it grows deep into the affected toe. If you have an ingrown toenail, visit Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics in Burnsville or Edina, Minnesota. The experienced team performs many ingrown toenail procedures every week, relieving pain and improving mobility. Call Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics or book an appointment online today for a high-quality patient experience and an end to ingrown toenail pain.

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail happens if the side or corner of a nail grows into the skin. It’s most likely to affect the big toe, which becomes red and swollen as the nail grows deeper into the skin. A deeply ingrown toenail can be very painful.

Another problem with ingrown toenails is the risk of infection. Bacteria in the damaged skin would cause your symptoms to get worse, and the area might ooze pus. An infected ingrown toenail is particularly concerning if you have diabetes or another blood circulation problem.

Diabetes reduces blood flow in the feet, and patients frequently develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). Injuries and infections in diabetic feet often heal poorly and can develop into diabetic ulcers (open wounds that resist healing).

What causes an ingrown toenail?

A common cause of ingrown toenails is wearing tight-fitting shoes, where pressure on the toe encourages the nail to grow through the skin. Another leading cause of ingrown toenails is trimming them incorrectly.

Trimming your toenails too short and shaping the sides encourages the nail to grow into your skin instead of over it. Unusually curved toenails and toenail injuries can sometimes cause ingrown toenails.

How are ingrown toenails treated?

When you first notice an ingrown toenail, soak the foot in warm water to relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Keep pressure off the nail, and it might improve. Don’t cut the ingrown nail yourself. Cutting it can temporarily relieve pain, but the nail will regrow deeper into the toe.

The Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team expertly treats ingrown toenails so that they regrow correctly. A severely ingrown inflamed and painful toenail might need to be removed. Your doctor numbs your toe and removes the ingrown portion of the nail. After 2-4 months, a new toenail grows. If you repeatedly have ingrown toenails, your doctor might also remove the nail bed.

Call the nearest Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics office or book an appointment online today for more information about successfully treating ingrown toenails.