Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails equal irritation and inconvenience, so fast treatment is essential. At Specialized Foot and Ankle Care, the team of premier foot and ankle specialists led by Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, have nearly a decade of experience treating ingrown toenails. They offer rapid relief from the pain at their three offices in Carteret, Perth Amboy, and Edison, New Jersey. You can be back on your feet and out the door with a quick in-office procedure. Call the nearest office today or make your appointment online.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails grow into the skin surrounding your nail bed. Almost all ingrown toenails affect the big toes. The skin around the side of the nail grows irritated, causing problems like:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Soreness or pain

Because the nail pierces your skin, it can provide an opening for harmful bacteria to creep in. This often leads to an infection with more intense symptoms. If infected, your toe can feel hot or develop throbbing pain. Pus, blood, or clear fluid drainage is a common sign that you have an infected ingrown toenail.

Although it’s rare, people who have repeated ingrown toenails can develop a spreading infection that affects the bones in the feet. This serious problem can lead to amputation, so it’s necessary to treat ingrown toenails right away.

How do you get ingrown toenails?

Most people develop ingrown toenails because they trim their nails too short or cut them in a curved shape. These nail grooming methods encourage the sides of the nail to grow into the skin. 

Anything that puts extra pressure on the toenail can lead to an ingrown nail. Examples include:

• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Stubbing your toe
• Dropping something on your toe

Genetics can also cause ingrown toenails. If you naturally have large toenail plates, the nail will grow into the skin because it has nowhere else to go.

Is it OK to dig out an ingrown toenail?

Absolutely not. It’s dangerous. Digging an ingrown toenail out can open you up to severe problems like infection or uncontrollable bleeding.

The Specialized Foot and Ankle Care podiatrists have nearly a decade of experience treating ingrown toenails using the safest, most effective methods. They can perform a simple procedure in the office to lift the corner of your nail and secure it (splinting). Or, they can administer a local anesthetic, remove the corner of the nail, and immediately ease your pain.

If you have recurrent ingrown toenails that cause you a lot of discomfort, the team could recommend permanent removal of part of the nail. This involves treating the root of your nail with a chemical or laser.

At Specialized Foot & Ankle Care, Dr. Sandhu or Dr. Bahari treat patients for bunions, diabetic foot care, athlete foot, sports injuries, heel pain, and more. We are a foot and ankle specialist practice located in New Jersey. Call us to book your appointment today.