Our team of specialists and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
Library
- Educational Videos
- What is a Podiatrist?
- When To Call a Doctor
- Foot Anatomy
- Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
- Basic Foot Care Guidelines
- Foot Problems
- General Statistics
- Achilles Problems
- Ankle Problems
- Arch and Ball Problems
- Common Foot Injuries
- Deformities
- Amniotic Band Syndrome
- Bunions
- Claw Toe
- Clubfoot
- Dysplasia (Epiphysealis Hemimelica)
- Enchondroma
- Flat Feet
- Gordon Syndrome
- Haglund's Deformity
- Hallux Limitus (Stiff Big Toe Joint)
- Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
- Hallux Varus
- Hammertoes
- Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
- Mallet Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Osteomyelitis (Bone Infections)
- Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
- Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
- Sesamoiditis
- Spurs
- Tarsal Coalition
- Diabetes and Your Feet
- Diseases of the Foot
- Fungus Problems
- Heel Problems
- Nail Problems
- Skin Problems
- Toe Problems
- Vascular/Nerve Problems
- Medical Care
- Fitness and Your Feet
- Foot Care
- Basic Foot Care Guidelines
- Athletic Foot Care
- Blisters
- Children's Feet
- Corns and Calluses
- Diabetic Foot Care
- Exercise Those Toes!
- Foot Care For Seniors
- Foot Self-Exam
- Pedicures
- Self-Assessment Quiz
- Women's Feet
- Your Feet at Work
- Bunion Prevention
- Burning Feet
- Fungus Problems
- Ingrown Nails
- Osteoporosis
- Foot Odor and Smelly Feet
- Shoes
- Links
Ingrown toenails, also known as onychocryptosis, is usually caused by trimming toenails too short, particularly on the sides of the big toes. They may also be caused by shoe pressure (from shoes that are too tight or short), injury, fungus infection, heredity, or poor foot structure. Ingrown toenails occur when the corners or sides of the toenail dig into the skin, often causing infection. A common ailment, ingrown toenails can be painful. Ingrown toenails start out hard, swollen, and tender. Left untreated, they may become sore, red, and infected and the skin may start to grow over the ingrown toenail.
In most cases, treating ingrown toenails is simple: soak the foot in warm, soapy water several times each day. Avoid wearing tight shoes or socks. Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed if an infection is present. Note: Please consult your physician before taking any medications. In severe cases, if an acute infection occurs, surgical removal of part of the ingrown toenail may be needed. Known as partial nail plate avulsion, the procedure involves injecting the toe with an anesthetic and cutting out the ingrown part of the toenail.
Ingrown toenails can be prevented by:
- Trimming toenails straight across with no rounded corners.
- Ensuring that shoes and socks are not too tight.
- Keeping feet clean at all times.