Should You See the Podiatrist for an Ingrown Toenail?
At NY Foot Health, we know that patients often are unsure whether or not to call the podiatrist for common foot conditions—one of these is an ingrown toenail. In this case, the answer to that question is: It depends.
You should contact your podiatrist for the first sign of an ingrown toenail if you have diabetes or poor circulation (or any condition that leads to poor circulation, such as peripheral neuropathy). Patients with decreased blood flow to the lower extremities are at risk for severe infections and even amputations if any foot problem occurs that can result in an open wound.
If you do not fall into this category, you may treat an ingrown toenail at home by soaking the affected foot in warm water with soap or Epsom salts for 10-20 minutes and then gently try to massage the nail out from the skin. You should never try to cut or dig out the ingrown nail and avoid any over-the-counter medications. If the nail doesn’t seem to be healing after a few days of soaking or you start to notice excessive redness, drainage, or pain in the toe, it’s best to schedule an appointment with the foot doctor promptly. You can find a podiatrist through our online directory if you don’t have one.
Preventing Ingrown Toenails
The number one cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail trimming. Preventive nail care tips include:
Use toenail clippers.
Never tear or rip nails by the edges.
Cut toenails straight across.
Trim nails so they are no longer than the tip of the toe. Leaving nails too long risks snags; too short and they may start to grow down and into the skin surrounding the nail bed.
Don’t round the edges—if necessary, gently file corners so they are not sharp.
Don’t dig around the corners of toenails.
Ingrown toenails can also happen due to trauma to the toe (such as severely stubbing it or having a heavy object dropped on it). Wearing shoes with narrow, tight toe boxes that squeeze toes against one another is another potential source of ingrown nails.
For some patients, ingrown toenails are genetic. If an ingrown nail is a recurrent problem, the podiatrist can perform a simple, in-office procedure to remove the nail's root and prevent the problem from happening again.
To learn more about common podiatric conditions and how to treat them, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.