Ingrown Toenail Specialist

What are ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails grow into the flesh around your toe to cause pain, irritation, and swelling. In some cases, ingrown toenails can lead to infection because they create a skin puncture where bacteria can get into your skin. 

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

The symptoms of an ingrown toenail depend on its severity. 

Stage 1

A stage 1 ingrown toenail, which is the least severe, punctures the skin next to your toe to cause discomfort and skin redness. 

Stage 2

A stage 2 ingrown toenail causes significant tissue swelling, redness, and pain at the corner of the nail. This swelling is new tissue called a granuloma. Generally, an ingrown toenail leaks fluid and produces pus at this point, a sign of infection. 

Stage 3

A stage 3 ingrown toenail is quite painful. It typically causes extremely red and swollen skin, continued pus leakage, and granuloma growth that covers the edge of your nail. A stage 3 ingrown toenail is badly infected. 

It’s important to treat an ingrown toenail when you first notice the symptoms, if possible. Otherwise, you could eventually develop an infection so severe that it penetrates the bones and tissues in your toe and foot. 

If you have diabetes, a fast response to ingrown toenail symptoms is particularly vital. With diabetes, you don’t heal as quickly as you should. This means that ingrown toenails can worsen more quickly, potentially leading to amputation if you don’t get treatment. 

What causes ingrown toenails?

There are many possible reasons for ingrown toenails, such as:

• Repeated trauma, like kicking a football
• Trimming your toenails in a rounded shape
• Inherited tendencies
• Footwear that’s too tight

Ingrown toenails are common across all age groups, teenagers and older adults in particular. 

How do you treat an ingrown toenail?

Your Godoy Foot & Ankle Center podiatrist can expertly remove the buried part of the nail. They likely apply a topical treatment or prescribe an oral antibiotic if you have an infection. 

If ingrown toenails are a recurring problem, your podiatrist may use a special chemical or laser treatment to destroy that part of the nail root. This prevents regrowth in that corner without removing your whole toenail. 

Godoy Foot & Ankle Center can treat your ingrown toenail and ensure that it’s gone for good. Call the office or click the online appointment tool to get help today.