INGROWN NAIL SOLUTION
An infected nail doesn’t cause much discomfort until it actually does. It becomes hard to ignore and can become hellacious if you continue to live with it. Ingrown toenails can be a special bother if you already have a particular condition. For instance, ingrown toenail among diabetes patients can be a lot more serious.
Hence, if you catch an infection on your nail due to an ingrown nail or some injury, you should immediately contact Empire Foot & Ankle.
INGROWN NAIL: THE COMMON CAUSES
Some of the common causes of ingrown nail include:
- Tight-fitting footwear
- Erroneous nail cutting techniques
- Nail plate thickening
- Trauma
- Subungual Exostosis (SE)
- Hallux valgus or some lesser toe deformities
HOME REMEDIES FOR INGROWN NAIL
Carrying out an ingrown nail treatment at home may not be a permanent solution. But it will provide you with some temporary relief.
- Soak your foot in warm water three to four times a day whilst pushing the skin away from the nail with a cotton bud. Adding Epsom’s salt in the water makes the process more effective.
- Do not cut the nail repeatedly as it makes the problem worse.
- Wear footwear that leaves plenty of room for your footwear to move.
If all of this doesn’t work out, seek help from a podiatrist.
WHEN TO CONTACT EMPIRE FOOT & ANKLE
People with diabetes or a compromised immune system should immediately contact us for ingrown nail treatment. Patients with poor blood circulation are also advised not to delay their treatment even if the symptoms appear to be mild.
If the home remedies do not bear results within a week and signs of infection start to appear, it’s best for you to contact our professionals. Swelling, redness, pain, streaking mal-odor and puss are some common signs of an infection.
INGROWN NAIL SOLUTION BY EMPIRE FOOT & ANKLE
Our podiatrists may remove a part of the nail that is pushing into the skin. They may also remove a certain portion of the nail along with the underlying nail bed to stop the condition from reoccurring. Many times, our professional place a cotton wool to stop the nail from cutting through the skin.
We also perform surgeries to remove the ingrown part of the nail. It is referred to as toenail avulsion. It’s where the doctor cuts away the edges of the toenail and makes it narrower. Folds of skin on either sides are also removed. Meanwhile the patients will be provided with a local or general anesthetic based on the circumstances.
Whatever happens, we will make sure the entire process is comfortable and stress free for the patients.