Ingrown Toenail Specialist
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Midwest Foot & Ankle Associates
Biren Shah, DPM
Foot and Ankle Surgeon & Podiatrist located in Rockford, IL & Elgin, IL
Ingrown toenails aren’t just painful, they can also make you self-conscious about your feet. Proper treatment from an expert podiatrist like Biren Shah, DPM, ensures the most prudent route to foot health. Sign up for an evaluation at Midwest Foot and Ankle Associates in Rockford, Illinois, by calling or using the online booking option.
Ingrown Toenail Q & A
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when your toenail curls or grows into the skin next to the nail rather than straight up. In some cases, the skin itself grows over the nail.
Ingrown toenails are most common on the big toe and may cause pain as the nail presses into the skin. If you’re unable to resolve your ingrown nail with home treatment, you should contact Dr. Shah.
What causes ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails are quite a common foot condition. If you clip your toenails in a tapered shape rather than straight across, you may cause your nail to grow unevenly. Uneven nail growth can lead to ingrown toenails.
Other reasons why you might have an ingrown toenail include:
- Wearing tight or small shoes
- Injury that affects the nail bed, such as a stubbed toe
- Toenail fungus
In rare cases, you may have an inherited predisposition to ingrown toenails if, for example, the toenail and nail bed don’t fit together properly.
What complications could I experience as a result of ingrown toenails?
As your toenail digs into your flesh, an ingrown toenail can lead to pain and tenderness. If the condition worsens, you might notice signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, and pus drainage.
Over time, an ingrown toenail can lead to permanent damage to the nail bed.
What are my treatment options for ingrown toenails?
You can try at-home treatments first, such as soaking the affected foot in warm salt water and applying an antiseptic. Contact Dr. Shah right away though if any of the following apply:
- You have diabetes or a circulatory disorder
- Your condition worsens or doesn’t go away
- The condition causes pain
- You suspect an infection
- Ingrown toenails are an ongoing problem
Dr. Shah may remove part of the affected nail and give you antibiotics for an infection. If you have a chronic problem with ingrown toenails, Dr. Shah can remove the entire nail and use lasers or chemicals to inhibit regrowth.
Make an appointment with Dr. Shah by calling or using the online scheduling tool to take care of pesky ingrown toenails for good.
