Infected Ingrown Toenails

Infected ingrown toenails can make walking, going to work, or doing other routine activities difficult. At A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, in Hackettstown, New Jersey, board-certified podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons An Nguyen, DPM, and Anna Wojcik-Stepien, DPM, offer same-day treatment of infected ingrown toenails. The providers have more than 10 years of wound care experience and can prevent the condition from worsening. Call the office today to make an appointment or walk in during regular business hours.

What causes infected ingrown toenails?

Infected ingrown toenails occur when your toenail grows into the soft skin around your nail bed instead of away from your toe. If you don’t take steps to trim the nail or change its trajectory, it grows further into your skin, resulting in swelling, redness, and pain.

Infected ingrown toenails are very common, but if you have diabetes or another health problem that affects your circulation, they can increase your risk of more serious issues, like gangrene or the need for amputation.

What are the symptoms of infected ingrown toenails?

Infected ingrown toenail symptoms include the following:

• Swelling
• Inflamed skin
• Pain and tenderness
• A nail that bleeds or oozes pus

If these symptoms last more than a few days or seem to be spreading into your foot, contact A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, immediately.

Who gets infected ingrown toenails?

Infected ingrown toenails affect people from all backgrounds, but various factors can increase your risk, including:

• Having diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation
• Wearing shoes that squeeze your toes
• Having unusually sweaty feet
• Doing activities, like running or kicking, that can injure the toes

Your personal hygiene can contribute to ingrown nails. For example, if you cut your nails at an angle instead of straight across, the edges are more likely to grow into your skin.

How are infected ingrown toenails diagnosed?

Your A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and examines your toe. Infected ingrown nails are easy to identify, but your podiatrist may order in-house digital X-rays to see how far the infection extends beneath your skin. 

How are infected ingrown toenails treated?

A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, treats infected ingrown toenails using a conservative and patient-oriented approach. They may recommend:

• Oral antibiotics to eliminate infection
• Lifting the nail so it grows above the edge of your skin
• Placing a splint beneath the nail to guide its growth
• Partly removing your nail and applying antibiotics underneath

If you experience infected ingrown nails multiple times on the same toe, your podiatrist might recommend removing the nail altogether. Before treatment, your provider administers a local anesthetic to numb your toe and ensure comfort.

Call A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, today to schedule treatment for infected ingrown toenails, book online, or walk in during business hours.