Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail can quickly become so painful that it’s difficult to wear shoes comfortably — and it could even be hard to walk if you don’t get help. Luckily, at Michfoot Surgeons in Southfield, Michigan, Randy Leff, DPM, and the other skilled podiatric care experts are waiting to help. The team offers quick, virtually painless ingrown toenail treatments, so don’t hesitate to call the office or click the online booking tool today.

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail is a nail that’s grown into the skin around the toe. Usually, ingrown toenails happen on your big toes. Ingrown toenails are one of the most common foot issues for men and women today, and this seemingly small issue can cause infection, severe pain, and even toe loss if untreated. The team at Michfoot Surgeons offers virtually painless in-office solutions.

How can I tell if a toenail is ingrown?

An ingrown toenail often causes the following symptoms:

• Sore or painful skin around the nail
• Swelling around the toe
• Redness at the nail edge

If your ingrown toenail gets infected, symptoms can grow even worse. You could develop pus or blood leakage where the nail bites into your skin. If you suspect that you have an ingrown toenail, it’s best to make an appointment at Michfoot Surgeons as soon as possible.

An untreated ingrown toenail can potentially cause some very serious complications, including bone infection or gangrene (tissue death). Ingrown toenails are a severe risk if you have diabetes since you may not have good circulation to help you heal. 

To avoid complications, check your feet for ingrown toenails and other diabetic feet problems every day.

What’s the treatment for ingrown toenails?

Your provider performs a minor in-office surgery to remove the part of the nail that’s causing problems. They gently numb your toe, then carefully remove the corner of the nail so your skin can heal. If the same toenail keeps growing back, the team at Michfoot Surgeons can apply a special chemical to your nail root. The chemical permanently deters nail regrowth. 

Most patients can wear a shoe over the affected toe almost immediately, and there’s no significant downtime, either. 

How can I avoid ingrown toenails?

By adjusting your foot care routine, you can often avoid the pain and irritation associated with ingrown toenails in the future. Some helpful changes can include: 

• Trimming your toenails straight across, never curved
• Wearing shoes with adequate toe space
• Maintaining short toenails (to the tips of your toes)

The experts at Michfoot Surgeons may have additional foot care recommendations to help you avoid ingrown toenails in the future. 

For permanent ingrown toenail solutions, reach out to Michfoot Surgeons online or by phone today.