How to Deal with Painful Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are a vexing problem for many people.
For some, they’re hereditary. When your parents got together and made you, your DNA lined up in such a way to make your toenails naturally curve downward. Preventing them from growing toward the skin instead of straight out may be a struggle you’re up against all your days on this Earth.
For others, something they’re doing is contributing to improper toenail growth. Some non-hereditary causes include:
- Narrow-toed shoes and high heels. Both shoe styles put a great deal of pressure on the toes, which can affect how your nails grow.
- Bad nail-clipping technique. Always cut your nails straight across. Cutting them with curves or sharp angles on the sides encourages the nail to grow into the skin. Length matters, too: trim your nails, so they’re no shorter than the tips of your toes.
- Traumatic injury to the nail, such as dropping a heavy object on your toes.
Okay, you’ve got ingrown toenails. What can you do about them?
There’s no need to resign yourself to suffering and pain. According to our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, here are some ways to treat an ingrown toenail:
- Foot soaks: dip the affected toe in warm water that you’ve infused with Epsom salts or a mild soap. Keep it there until the toenail, and surrounding skin softens. Apply antibiotic cream and cover the area with a bandage
- Re-train your toenail: encourage it to grow away from the skin by gently lifting it and placing a small piece of cotton between the nail and the skin. Soak your toe first to soften it and change the cotton daily.
- See a podiatrist. Let our expert podiatrist help you when ingrown toenails give you a lot of pain or show signs of infection (redness, swelling, or pus). If necessary, Dr. Wilhelm can safely remove the offending portion of the nail, offering a permanent solution to pain and infections.
A quick note for our patients with diabetes: we don’t recommend any home treatment of ingrown toenails at all because of the risk of dangerous infections. All Fairfax County residents who suffer from ingrown toenails may make an appointment online or call Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Centreville, Virginia at (703) 996-3000.
