Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common but painful problem. They present potentially severe risks if you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or another condition that reduces blood flow to your feet. At Global Podiatry in Chicago and Wheeling, Illinois, experienced podiatrists Simon Donets, DPM, Yelena Barsky, DPM, and their team offer high-quality care for ingrown toenails. Prompt treatment reduces your risk of infection and more severe problems. Call the nearest Global Podiatry office today to schedule ingrown toenail treatment, or book your appointment online.

Will an ingrown toenail go away by itself?

Ingrown toenails won’t go away without treatment, but most can improve with at-home care, like antibiotic ointment and wound care. Make an appointment at Global Podiatry if you regularly experience ingrown toenails and have a medical condition like diabetes that raises your risk of complications.

What are the symptoms of ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenail symptoms include:

• Skin growing over the nail’s edge
• Pain
• Redness and/or skin discoloration
• Swelling
• Toe feeling warm or hot

Your toenail might ooze blood or pus if there’s an infection.

Do ingrown toenails increase the risk of complications?

Ingrown toenails usually aren’t a serious concern in healthy people. But if you have a medical condition like peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that affects blood flow to your feet, you might develop an infection that spreads through your toe and into the bone. Keeping your nails trimmed and inspecting your feet daily significantly reduces your risk.

How are ingrown toenails diagnosed?

Your Global Podiatry provider examines your toe and toenail, checking the skin of your nail bed for redness and discoloration. They gently press your toe to identify sensitive spots and look for signs of infection, like swelling and oozing pus.

Most ingrown toenails only need a visual examination. But if your provider suspects an infection, they might collect a sample of discharge or a clipping of the nail and send it to a nearby lab for testing. Confirmation of a bacterial and fungal culture determines the source of infection and guides treatment.

How are ingrown toenails treated?

The Global Podiatry team treats ingrown toenails using a conservative, integrative approach. They might suggest:

• Lifting the edge of the nail with cotton to help your nail grow above the skin
• Placing a gutter splint under the nail so it grows outward
• Taking anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and discomfort
• Using an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
• Wearing roomy shoes or sandals to prevent irritation

Your provider might recommend minimally invasive surgery to remove the nail if you regularly experience ingrown nails on the same toe. Global Podiatry uses laser nail removal, a quick outpatient procedure with few risks.

Call the nearest Global Podiatry office today for ingrown toenail treatment, or book your appointment online.