An ingrown toenail can lead to severe pain and infection and should be treated right away. At Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic, expert certified podiatrists Adam Matthews, DPM, Karson Howard, DPM, and their team provide excellent treatment and care for you. They have two locations in Thayne and Jackson, Wyoming, and four in Pocatello, Soda Springs, Montpelier, and Idaho Falls, Idaho. If you have an ingrown toenail, call or book an appointment online at the location nearest you today.
request an appointmentWhat is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail is a painful condition that happens when your toenail starts to grow into the skin that surrounds the bed of your nail instead of growing out straight and flat. An ingrown toenail can occur on any toe. However, the big toe is the most susceptible.
What causes an ingrown toenail?
If your nail bed tends to be more curved than flat and straight, you can develop ingrown toenails more easily. You can also get ingrown toenails if you cut them improperly. For instance, you put yourself at high risk for getting an ingrown toenail if you cut your nails too short or cut down into the curved side of your nail bed.
Wearing shoes that are too tight can also irritate your nail bed and cause your toenails to grow inward into your skin.
What happens if I ignore my ingrown toenail?
When your nail grows into your skin, it can pierce the skin and cause a wound, which becomes vulnerable to infection. If you don’t get the proper treatment, the infection can go into your bloodstream and cause further complications.
If you have chronic conditions, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease, an ingrown toenail can be dangerous to your health. For example, with those health issues, you can lose sensation in your feet, so you might not notice that you have an ingrown toenail until it’s infected. That’s why you need to inspect your feet on a regular basis.
Whether you sense the pain of an ingrown toenail or notice swelling, redness, or any kind of infection, call Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic for immediate treatment and care.
How is an ingrown toenail treated?
The team at Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic has the expertise to give you same-day care when you arrive at the office and provide permanent correction of your ingrown toenail.
They choose the most conservative method of treatment and discuss the options with you, which include cutting your nails straight across on a regular basis or performing surgery that involves removing the ingrown portion of the nail or removing the entire toenail. These options can train your nails to grow properly.
Your doctor numbs the area to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure to give you a pain-free experience. You go home with a bandaged toe and aftercare instructions. It should take about two weeks to heal.
If you have an ingrown toenail, call Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic, or book your appointment online today.
Convenient Wyoming & Idaho Locations
Patients enjoy a comforting and friendly atmosphere at Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic’s offices in Thayne and Jackson, Wyoming, and Pocatello, Soda Springs, Montpelier, Hailey and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Find your nearest location and then schedule your appointment with our expert podiatrists today!