Myths about Ingrown Toenails

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we so often hear patients who come into our Upper West Side Manhattan office with a painful ingrown toenail say, “I wish I had come in sooner.” A prevailing myth about this condition is that it is going be very painful to fix, so patients put off making the appointment. In reality, our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia, will gently numb the affected toe and remove the offending corner of the nail. You will most definitely leave the office in less pain then you entered with! There are other myths surrounding ingrown toenails. Below are a few we’d like to dispel:

MYTH: Ingrown toenails just happen. There’s nothing you can do to prevent them.

FACT: Although there is a percentage of patients who are genetically pre-disposed to ingrown toenails, the most common cause is improper nail trimming. Sometimes patients cut their toenails so short that the skin surrounding the nail is able to overlap the nail, giving the perfect opportunity for the nail to become ingrown. Rounding the edges of the toenails can also increase the risk for them to become ingrown.

MYTH: Your footwear has no impact on whether you get an ingrown nail or not.

FACT: Wearing socks that are too tight and bind your toes together, or shoes with narrow, pointy toe boxes that squeeze toes together can both cause ingrown toenails to develop. High-heeled shoes also increase the likelihood of ingrown nails by forcing the foot forward and the toes to be crammed next to each other.

MYTH: It’s unlikely that the same nail will be ingrown a second time.

FACT: Ingrown nails can recur in the same toenail. For some patients, an ingrown toenail is a chronic problem. If this is the case, the podiatrist can remove the root of the nail to permanently prevent re-growth of the portion of a nail that repeatedly becomes ingrown.

MYTH: Although painful, ingrown nails are not really dangerous.

FACT: Without treatment, the ingrown nail will eventually puncture the skin, and this can then allow harmful bacteria to enter and cause an infection. If you have an ingrown toenail that is red, throbbing, warm to the touch, discharging fluid and/or you have a fever, it’s essential that you contact us immediately by calling: (212) 877-1002.