Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668Ingrown toenails are a common, painful problem that happens when the side of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin. That digging in causes redness, pain, and swelling, and if the nail breaks the skin, bacteria can enter and cause infection. The big toe is affected most often.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails
There are several culprits: trauma, heredity, improper trimming or cutting the nails too short, shoes that are too tight or too short, and nail conditions such as fungal infection. Knowing the cause helps prevent the next one.
The Truth About Home Treatment
For a mild, early ingrown nail with no infection, a few home measures can help:
- Soak the foot in warm water two or three times a day
- Wear comfortable, roomy shoes — or open-toe shoes — while it is sore
- Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen for pain, if appropriate for you
What you should not do is attempt “bathroom surgery” — digging the nail out yourself or repeatedly cutting a notch in it. The biggest risk with an ingrown nail is infection, and DIY surgery dramatically increases that risk while rarely fixing the underlying nail border. It often turns a small problem into a draining, recurring one.
When to See a Podiatrist
If there is severe pain, excessive redness or swelling, or any drainage, see your doctor promptly. You should also skip home care entirely and be seen if you have diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation — in those patients even a minor ingrown nail can become a serious wound. In the office we can numb the toe and remove just the offending nail border, and for nails that keep coming back we treat the nail root so the problem border does not regrow — a quick, lasting fix.
For more information or to schedule an evaluation, call (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) or book online at NaplesPodiatrist.com.
Serving Southwest Florida since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has 9 convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties — Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, and Sarasota. We provide pediatric to geriatric foot and ankle care: ingrown toenails, heel pain, bunions, foot & ankle arthritis, plantar fasciitis, foot & ankle surgery, custom orthotics, and diabetic wound care — with in-office X-rays, diagnostic ultrasound, and minor surgical suites. Home of the Lam Minimally Invasive No-Scar Bunion Surgery. Same-day appointments and easy online scheduling.
