Ingrown toenails are one of the most common foot problems. It’s so common that about 20% of people who see their doctor with a complaint about their foot are diagnosed with an ingrown toenail.
Some cases of ingrown toenails are easily treated at home, but not all are. Sometimes, a trip to urgent care is the best thing to do. Here’s what you need to know about when to see a Premium Urgent Care doctor for an ingrown toenail.
What Causes an Ingrown Toenail?
One of the leading causes of ingrown toenails is nails that are cut incorrectly. Never cut your toenails so that the edges are rounded. Don’t cut them too short, either. Toenails need to be cut straight across so that the nail is about 0.04 to 0.08 inches past where the toenail is still connected to the skin.
Ill-fitting shoes are another reason ingrown toenails happen. Your toes need room to wiggle around, so you need the toe box of the shoe to provide that room. Narrow, pointy toe boxes are an issue. Look for shoes with wide toe boxes and end issues with ingrown toenails caused by cramped toes.
Your family history also plays a role in ingrown toenails. You could be genetically predisposed to this common foot problem. If so, it’s especially important to avoid the common causes of ingrown nails.
Finally, damage to your toenail can cause it. If you drop a piece of firewood on your foot and damage the toenail, it may not grow correctly while it’s healing.
Ingrown Toenail Prevention
What are the best ways to prevent ingrown toenails? Use the following list to take good care of your feet.
Avoid Pedicures Without Researching the Salon
If you want a professional pedicure, check the salon’s certifications to ensure they follow proper hygiene practices. Verify that the nail technicians do not trim nails incorrectly. It’s better to see a podiatrist and ask if there are recommended salons. Some podiatrists offer educational nail trims in their offices to help teach you how to take care of your nails.
Check Your Feet Each Day
Each day, check your feet for any signs of issues. If you notice swelling, redness, or thickened skin around the edge of your toenails, it’s a sign that an ingrown toenail is beginning.
Choose the Best Shoes for Your Feet
Shoes are not all the same. Different manufacturers and even product lines are shaped using a specific style and size guide. Avoid purchasing shoes that are not made for your feet. If you have a wide foot, don’t try to cram it into narrow shoes. Go to a shoe store that does professional measurements and has shoe experts who can steer you to the best style and brand for your foot’s shape and size.
Cut Your Toenails Correctly
Make sure you cut your toenails straight across and not too close to the area where the skin and toenail connect. Don’t leave them too long either. A good rule of thumb is to aim for about 2 millimeters past where the toenail is no longer connected to the skin.
Follow Proper Foot and Toenail Care
Wash and dry your feet each day. Make sure you dry between your toes to avoid the growth of fungus (athlete’s foot). If you have underlying health conditions that impact the feet, such as diabetes, make sure you’re taking care of your feet properly. If you notice signs of an ingrown nail in the early stages, a piece of cotton placed under the corner of the nail may lift it enough to avoid having a fully embedded toenail.
See a Podiatrist
If you have a family history of ingrown toenails, see a podiatrist regularly to make sure your feet are in good condition. If you catch ingrown toenails early, you avoid a lot of the discomfort and risk of infection.
Signs It’s Time to Go to Urgent Care
Taking care of early-stage ingrown toenails is possible at home, but there are times when home remedies are not enough. If you wait too long, an infection could spread to nearby bone or tissue and lead to disaster. No ingrown toenail should be left so long that amputation is the only option. If you experience any of the following, go immediately to your nearest Premium Urgent Care.
- Bleeding – If bleeding is excessive or won’t stop, see a doctor.
- Diabetes or Peripheral Neuropathy – Even a simple foot problem can become a dangerous one if you have either of those conditions. Always see a doctor as soon as you notice anything concerning.
- Fever – If your ingrown toenail coincides with a fever, it’s a sign of severe infection that needs immediate medical attention.
- Granulation Tissue – Granulation tissue is extra tissue that forms over a healing area. If there is an excessive amount of granulation tissue near your healing toenail, it can be a sign that there’s still an infection present.
- Intense Pain – If the pain is severe and throbbing, the problem is worsening. You need to see a doctor.
- Recurring Ingrown Toenails – Your ingrown toenails heal and then come back over and over. It’s time to see an urgent care physician to determine why it keeps happening.
- Signs of Infection – If the ingrown toenail is infected, see a doctor. Signs of infection include swelling, skin that’s warm to the touch, pus draining from the ingrown nail, or a foul odor.
What Does an Urgent Care Physician Do?
Premium Urgent Care has specialists available to diagnose your ingrown toenail and treat any underlying infection. A treatment plan is developed to help your toenail heal correctly. Treatment options typically include:
- Incision and Drainage – The area where the infection is forming is opened and drained of any pus.
- Antibiotics – Prescription medications that kill the bacteria and clear up the infected toenail after the pus is drained. If oral medications aren’t prescribed, a topical ointment is often recommended.
- Wound Care – A thorough cleaning of the area where the ingrown nail is located and bandages that help cushion the toe while it’s healing. You may be instructed to go home and soak your foot in an Epsom salt bath each day to aid healing.
- Partial Nail Avulsion – After a local anesthetic is injected to numb your toe, the area of the nail that’s in the skin is surgically removed.
- Total Nail Avulsion – This procedure is similar, but the entire toenail is removed instead of part of it. Total Nail Avulsion is often used if ingrown toenails keep coming back.
- Chemical Matrixectomy: A chemical agent is applied to the nail matrix to stop the section of the toenail removed through a partial or total nail avulsion from coming back.
While ingrown toenails are a common foot ailment, don’t let that keep you from seeing an urgent care doctor for advice. They can quickly go from being slightly annoying to dangerous infections that require urgent medical attention. The sooner you seek treatment, the easier it is to resolve any discomfort and protect your long-term health. Premium Urgent Care is here for you, and you can save time by checking in when you’re on your way.