Ingrown Toenail Removal Lubbock, Texas is a condition whereby the edges of your toenail grow into the skin of the nail. The big toe is usually affected.
Ingrown Toenail Removal Lubbock, Texas
If you have an ingrown toenail, the affected toe may begin to turn reddish, swollen, and you may begin to feel pain.
Though an ingrown toenail is usually not a serious condition, it could get serious and infected when not treated on time. Ingrown toenail can make walking difficult and can make wearing of shoes painful.
With proper foot and toenail care, you can prevent ingrown toenail to a large extent.
Causes of ingrown toenails
There are several conditions or lifestyle that could cause Ingrown Toenail Removal Lubbock, Texas. These include:
- Having an irregular curved toenails
- Incorrect or improper cutting of the toenails.
- Not cutting or trimming the toenails on time.
- Toenail injuries can damage the toenail.
- Wearing footwear that puts a lot of pressure on the big toe.
- Putting on very tight socks and narrow shoes that don’t have enough space for the toes.
- Genetic and hereditary
- Improper foot hygiene
- Poor foot posture
- Repeatedly kicking a weighty or hard object
- Exerting a lot of pressure on your toenail.
Risk factors of ingrown toenails
Individuals with sweaty feet, thickened nails and irregular curves nails are at a higher risk of developing ingrown toenails.
Individuals that have diabetes or other conditions that prevent the free flow of blood to their feet are also at higher risk of developing ingrown toenails along with its complication.
Symptoms of ingrown toenails
Symptoms of ingrown toenails
There are several signs and symptoms that you may experience if you have ingrown toenails.
These include:
- The skin at the affected area begins to turn reddish
- The toe becomes swollen
- The skin becomes tender
- Pain in the affected area
- Feeling of more pain when pressure is applied on the toe
- Fluid begins to build up in the toe
- Bleeding
- Overgrowth of skin around the toe
- The skin becomes hardened
- Pus on the Infected toe
Diagnosis of ingrown toenails
During diagnosis, your doctor will conduct a physical examination of the affected toenail and the surrounding skin. An X-ray may be conducted if there are any signs of an infection. The X-ray allows your doctor to view the internal structure of the affected toe to know the extent of damage and the root cause of the infection.
Treatment of ingrown toenails
Treatment of ingrown toenails
The treatment for ingrown toenails depends on the severity of the condition.
You can treat ingrown toenails with home remedies. These include:
Soak your feet in warm water
Soaking your feet with warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes for 3 to 4 times in a day helps to relieve tenderness and reduce swelling. It helps to kill bacteria and prevent infections from affecting the feet.
Place cotton or dental floss under the toenail
Place a bit of cotton or waxed dental floss underneath the ingrown edge to help the toenail grow above the skin edge.
Apply antibiotic cream
Apply antibiotic ointment on the tender area and bandage the toe to prevent bacteria from getting into the affected area.
Wear comfortable footwear
Put on sandals or open-toed shoes until your toe gets healed.
Take pain relievers
You can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) to help relieve pain.
How to remove an ingrown toenail
When an ingrown toenail is very painful and makes walking very difficult or when it is infected, your doctor may recommend a total removal of some or the entire toenail. This will allow your doctor treat the ingrown toenail and infection. The underlying nail bed where the bacteria or fungi are may also be removed.
Your doctor will conduct a surgical removal of your toenail which involves removing a small portion of the side of the toenail and then destroying the underlying toenail bed.
How is the surgery done?
Ingrown toenail surgery is an outpatient procedure. You will first be given local anesthesia to make you comfortable throughout the procedure but you will be awake. Your surgeon or podiatrist will also numb the surgical site so that you don’t feel pain.
Your surgeon will then cut the side of the ingrown toenail to create a straight nail edge. The underlying nail bed will also be destroyed to create a permanent thinner nail. If there is any strong or heaped up tissue on the side of the toe, it will be removed. After the infected toenail is removed and the procedure completed, the toe will be bandaged.
After the procedure
Ingrown Toenail Removal Lubbock, Texas; Antibiotic ointment will be immediately applied to the toe after the procedure. The antibiotic ointment helps the toe to heal faster. When you get home, ensure you continue to apply the ointment twice every day until the toe is completely healed.
You can go back home after the surgery. Keep your foot elevated for a few hours after the procedure. You can resume your normal daily activities the next day. Avoid strenuous activities or vigorous exercises. Avoid running and any activities that might make you hit your foot in the next two weeks following the surgery.
You can shower the next day after the surgery but don’t immerse the toe in water. Gently dry the area and apply antibiotic ointment after your shower. Avoid swimming, bathing in a bathtub filled with water, or soaking the toe for two weeks after the surgery. Try as much as possible to keep the toe always clean and dry.
Replace the bandage if it is soaked by fluid or blood. Make sure you keep the bandage for at least one week before removing it.
If you are experiencing increased pain, you can take anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen, or acetaminophen.
Ensure you always wear loose-fitting comfortable shoes or sneakers for at least two weeks after the surgery. Avoid wearing tight-fitting shoes or high-heeled shoes during and after recovery.
If you are experiencing any signs of infection such as increased pain, swelling, redness, or drainage from the toe, you should contact your doctor.
To prevent ingrown toenail from occurring again, always trim your nails straight across the top of the nail. Do not cut the nail down into the corners to prevent it from growing inside the skin.
