Ingrown Toenails: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Find out when it’s time to turn to your Denver foot doctor about an ingrown toenail.

An ingrown toenail may not seem like a very big deal at first, however, it’s important that you provide proper care to the affected area so as ingrown-toenailto prevent detrimental issues, such as infection, from developing in your foot. From the office of our Denver podiatrists, Dr. Florin Costache and Dr. Lorry Melnick, learn more about spotting an ingrown toenail and how to treat the problem before it affects your health.

 

What are the warning signs of an ingrown toenail?

Most commonly affecting the big toe, an ingrown toenail is when the side of a nail grows into the neighboring skin. If you do develop an ingrown toenail, you may notice redness, swelling, and tenderness around the nail. You will even be able to see where the nail has grown into the skin.

In these cases, it's important to keep the area clean in order to prevent infection. Warning signs of infection include severe pain, swelling, and pus draining from the nail itself. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important that you see your Denver foot doctor right away.

 

Can I treat an ingrown toenail at home?

Most healthy individuals will be able to treat their ingrown toenails all on their own with simple at-home care. Of course, if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or have nerve damage in your feet, it’s important that you see your foot doctor right away if you develop an ingrown toenail. It is important that you do not try and treat the problem on your own, as this could lead to more serious complications.

Simple ways to treat an ingrown toenail include,

  • Applying a small piece of cotton under the edge of the nail to lift it away from the skin
  • Soaking your feet in warm water several times a day for up to 20 minutes at a time to ease pain and swelling (for diabetics, soaking your feet is not recommended without first consulting your foot doctor)
  • Wearing shoes that don’t bunch up toes or put pressure on them
  • Taking a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory to temporarily ease pain and inflammation

 

Need relief? Give us a call

If you are dealing with a painful ingrown toenail and aren’t able to manage your symptoms on your own, call Cherry Creek Foot Clinic in Denver, CO, today at (303) 355-1695 to find out how we can help.

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