A common condition that patients bring to Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC is an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail begins to grow down and into the skin around the edge of the nail plate. Once the nail penetrates the skin, the area becomes red and quite painful. Bacteria can then enter the body and an infection can develop. Although not a difficult problem to heal, many patients wait too long to seek medical care and misinformation about causes and treatment of ingrown nails abounds. Here are some myths and facts about ingrown toenails:

MYTH: Ingrown toenails don’t need treatment; they will go away on their own.

FACT: Left untreated, ingrown toenails will only get worse. If you notice pus or drainage from the site, it most likely means that an infection has set in. If you have diabetes, or another disease that compromises your immune system, or if you have had a joint replacement or pace maker implanted, then an infection can be a very serious risk to your health.

MYTH: You only get an ingrown toenail if you wear shoes that are too tight.

FACT: While it’s true that wearing shoes that cramp your toes is one of the major causes of ingrown toenails, the biggest cause is improper trimming of toenails. Toenails need to be trimmed straight across and not too short. If they are cut with curved edges, they are more likely to become ingrown. In children, ingrown nails often occur if they peel or tear off their nails rather than having them trimmed with a nail clipper. In some cases, the tendency toward ingrown toenails is hereditary.

MYTH: Ingrown toenails don’t require a trip to the podiatrist; you can take care of them with a little “bathroom surgery.”

FACT: Actually, attempting to cut out a portion of your nail to take care of an ingrown toenail is the worst thing you could do. This often results in more damage to the nail bed and increases your chance of infection. Handled this way, most ingrown nails will reoccur. When you make an appointment in our Monroe or Lambertville office, one of our board certified foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin, can perform a simple procedure that has little pain and discomfort and most often brings permanent results. After numbing the affected toe, the nail margin is removed and the root in this area destroyed. There are generally no restrictions in activity or bathing and patients can usually resume sports and exercise activities the following day.

If an ingrown toenail is causing you pain and discomfort, don’t delay. Call 734-241-0200 or 734-856-8900 to make an appointment. For your convenience, we offer Saturday hours and house visits.