If you trim your toenails too short, particularly on the sides of your big toes, you may be setting the bar for an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is a pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. In most cases, these issues won’t heal until the nail is removed. Fortunately, there are various types of treatments for this condition that Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger DPM can recommend to patients.
People with curved or thick nails are most susceptible to ingrown toenails, although anyone can suffer from an ingrown nail as a result of an injury, poorly fitting shoes, or improper grooming of the feet. People with diabetes, vascular problems, or numbness in the toes need to be aggressive in treating and preventing ingrown toenails because they can lead to serious complications, including the risk of losing a limb.
The best way to prevent ingrown toenails is to protect the feet from trauma and to wear shoes and socks with adequate room for the toes. Nails should always be cut straight across with a clean, sharp nail trimmer without tapering or rounding the corners. You should always trim the nails no shorter than the edge of the toe and keep your feet clean and dry at all times.
If you seem to be suffering from an ingrown toenail, don’t suffer any longer and give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about ingrown toenails as well as other conditions we treat, visit www.slcpodiatrist.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM at one of her podiatry practices in the Sandy, UT, area, call 801-619-2170.
