Ingrown toenails are painful and have the potential to become infected. They’re a challenge for most people to treat on their own and can have serious implications for people with disorders such as diabetes. However, at the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associate of Lorain, we frequently help patients find a permanent solution to their discomfort.
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin. It most often affects the big toe and is common in teenagers and people whose toes have incurred blunt-force trauma. If it is allowed to go untreated, it can become infected, resulting in the development of pus. If infection has not set in, people without complicating medical conditions may attempt at-home remedies such as soaking the foot in warm water three times a day and rubbing the overhanging skin. It is not advisable to repeatedly cut the nail, and objects such as paper used to lift the toenail out of the skin must be replaced daily.
If a hangnail persistently recurs, we can prescribe antibiotics and surgically remove parts of the nail or surrounding skin. Hangnails are one of the ailments people with peripheral nerve damage need to regularly examine themselves for. They can be avoided by cutting the nail straight across and wearing shoes with adequate room in the toe boxes. The feet should also be kept dry as much as possible.
Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.
