5 Facts You Should Know about Ingrown Toenails

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know that just because a podiatric issue is common doesn’t mean that our Manhattan patients know all they need to about treating and preventing it. Ingrown toenails are one such condition.

Below are five things to know about ingrown toenails and how to deal with them:

1.      The number one cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail cutting—yup, it’s true. If everyone trimmed their nails appropriately, the number of cases of ingrown toenails would decrease dramatically. Toenails should be cut straight across using toenail clippers. You should avoid cutting nails too short, encouraging them to grow into the skin surrounding the nail. Do not round the edges of the nails, and avoid picking at the corners.

2.      Your footwear can increase the risk of ingrown toenails—spending time in shoes with pointy or narrow-toe boxes or shoes that are too small for your feet can also cause ingrown nails to develop. This happens because the toes are pressed against one another for long periods, allowing the nail to begin to grow into the skin.

3.      Visiting a podiatrist to treat an ingrown nail is important—especially if you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or poor circulation. If you have one of these conditions, you should examine your feet regularly and contact our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff, at the first sign of an ingrown toenail. Treating foot and toe problems that can lead to open wounds is essential for preventing serious infections that can lead to amputation. You can schedule an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002.

4.      Ingrown toenails can be hereditary—the tendency for ingrown toenails can run in families. If you are genetically inclined toward ingrown nails, you may also find that they occur repeatedly, often on the same toe. If this is the case, the podiatrist can perform a simple procedure in the office to remove the root of the nail to prevent the regrowth of the ingrown portion permanently.

5.      At-home solutions can be dangerous—there are several “folk remedies” that patients may have heard of, such as cutting a notch in an ingrown nail or trying to stick a wad of cotton between the nail and nail bed. These are ineffective and can damage your toe and lead to an infection. Ditto for over-the-counter medications. Although many patients fear treatment because an ingrown toenail can be very painful, we find that patients who have an ingrown toenail taken care of will leave the office in substantially less pain than when they arrived.