FOOT TIP TUESDAY: INGROWN TOENAILS
One of the urgent needs we’re treating in our office is ingrown toenails. They can occur at any age, and the pain, often the result of soft tissue swelling and inflammation, can be debilitating. Here are some tips to avoid ingrown nails:
-Trim toenails so the leading corners of the nail can be seen. For some, nails are thick and grow deep down into the side of the toe. These nails require cutting the corners back at an angle.
-Inflammation or abrasions on the toe, both common precipitators of an ingrown nail, can be treated with Epsom salt soaks, topical antibiotics, and antiseptics.
-Avoid shoes that are too small or narrow.
For nails that do not respond to at-home treatment, our office excels in providing quick, effective management. Oral antibiotics and/or minor procedures are used to permanently resolve painful, recurrent ingrown nails. Following the simple, in-office procedure, you’ll be able to walk out of the office in your own shoes.
