Ingrown Toenail Surgery

"Great explanation of procedure and better yet, very clear, easy to follow after care procedures. The whole experience was great, and the best part - my toe is great now!"

PALMER | APR 28, 2023

Walking becomes more of a chore when you have an ingrown toenail, which can cause pain, swelling, and throbbing in the affected toe. At Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia in Glen Allen, Virginia, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, Ryan Vazales, DPM, DABFAS, FACFAS, can offer helpful tips to prevent ingrown toenails and stop them from getting worse. Call Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia or schedule an appointment online right away if an ingrown toenail doesn’t improve or shows signs of an infection.

What causes ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails happen when the skin alongside your nail either grows over the nail itself or the nail grows into the skin. This can cause significant pain and irritation that flares up when you walk.

Many situations can lead to an ingrown toenail or make it worse, including:

• Stubbing your toe
• Wearing tight shoes
• Grooming your toenails improperly
• Having a naturally large nail or small nail bed
• Nail infections

When trimming your nails, you should always trim straight across and not in a curved pattern. Doing so and wearing shoes that give your toes plenty of space can help you avoid getting an ingrown toenail in the future.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

A nail growing into the skin is easily aggravated and can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Your ingrown toenail may cause:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Warmth

An infection can cause additional symptoms like a foul odor coming from the nail or a pus-filled abscess.

When does an ingrown toenail need treatment?

Contact Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia if your ingrown toenail doesn’t improve within a few days or if the nail starts to look worse. An infected ingrown toenail can cause severe swelling and pain and can spread to another place in your body.

How can I manage an ingrown toenail?

You can usually manage an ingrown toenail and its symptoms on your own. Most ingrown toenails heal without medical intervention. While you shouldn’t attempt to cut an ingrown toenail out of your skin, you can reduce swelling and pain with gentle home care like washing with soap and water and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Other steps you can take to manage an ingrown toenail include:

• Choosing roomy shoes that give your toes plenty of space
• Placing floss or cotton under the nail to lift it and help it grow above the skin
• Cleaning your nail trimmer frequently
• Trimming your nails straight across
• Soaking your nails before trimming them

For people with diabetes, an ingrown toenail can lead to complications like foot ulcers, infections, and potential amputation. It’s important to self-examine your feet regularly and make routine visits to Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia so Dr. Vazales can evaluate any abnormalities.

Call Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia or schedule an appointment online to fix your ingrown toenail today.