How To Treat an Ingrown Toenail

The toenails have an important purpose for your feet. They protect and stabilize the front part of your toes. You must maintain your toenails as consistently as the rest of your feet to avoid ingrown toenails. Understand the causes and proper steps for treating ingrown toenails with the advice and assistance of Dr. Richard Grayson at Avon Podiatry Associates in Avon, CT.

Ingrown Toenail Causes and Potential Concerns

Ingrown toenails are both physically and visually unpleasant. As the hard nail turns inward instead of growing outward, it can break through the soft skin, causing pain, redness, and irritation. This foot condition is usually caused by wearing shoes that are too tight at the front or clipping the nails improperly. Some patients are prone to ingrown toenails due to genetics. If an ingrown toenail isn't removed and festers into a sore, it could lead to an infection.

Treating an Ingrown Toenail Step By Step

When treating an ingrown toenail, you must be gentle and careful to avoid creating a wound. You should not attempt to treat an ingrown toenail on your own if it has become severe and possibly infected. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow for the beginning stages of an ingrown toenail:

• Soak your feet and toes in a warm solution containing Epsom salt to help loosen the nail from the skin.
• Using floss or a sterilized pedicure tool, attempt to gently separate the nail from the surface of the skin. Place a bit of cotton under the nail to keep it separated.
• Use a clean, sterilized pair of toenail trimmers to carefully clip the excess nail away. Avoid contacting the skin.
• After the toenail clipping, treat the area with a triple antibiotic solution and moisturize the toes and feet.

A Podiatrist Can Help

It is important to understand when an ingrown toenail is beyond home treatment. Generally, ingrown toenails have completely broken through the skin, bleed, and cause intense discomfort. Request help from your Avon, CT, podiatrist. Podiatrists offer a professional nail clipping service and can surgically remove and treat nails that have broken through the skin.

Monitor and Take Care of Your Toenails

Pay attention to your toenails each day to ensure that they are growing properly over the skin's surface in a healthy way. Also, get help with ingrown toenails and general toenail maintenance from Dr. Grayson at Avon Podiatry Associates in Avon, CT. Contact the office at (860) 677-7733 today.