Treat Ingrown Toenails with the Best Podiatric Treatment in California
Ingrown toenails are bulge out rash on either sides of your toenails due to the nail root growing under the skin. In some people, it may not be painful. However, if it is untreated, it may get infected, causing severe pain. Ingrown nails can cause discomfort, pain and difficult to walk around.
You can treat it with simple home remedies. However, if not healed, you need to go to a primary health care provider or a podiatrist (foot doctor). Your podiatrist will diagnose an ingrown toenail based on symptoms and by examining the affected area of ingrown toenails.
In most cases, your podiatrist will prescribe oral antibiotics or topical to get rid of the pesky toenail infection.
For some they recommend undergoing treatments such as
- Lifting the nail – For a slightly ingrown, your doctor will lift the edge of the nail and place dental floss, cotton, or a splint.
- Taping the nail – With this approach, your health care provider uses tape to pull the skin away from the ingrown nail.
- Placing a gutter splint under the skin – Your doctor will numb the toe with a tiny tube under the ingrown nail.
- Partially removing the nail – Your doctor may remove the portion of the ingrown nail if it is causing pain, inflammation, and pus.
- Removing the nail and tissue – Your doctor will remove the nail and tissue through surgical, chemical, or laser methods if the problem occurs again and again.
What causes ingrown toenails?
- Giving more stress.
- Stubbing or dropping off any object.
- Wrong way of cutting the toe corners.
- Thick and long nails
- Hereditary
- Fungal infection
- Toe deformation
- Edema
- Hyperhidrosis
Home Remedies
Most people treat ingrown toenails with simple home remedies such as
- Socking in sop water.
- Usage of cotton or waxed dental floss.
- Applying Vaseline.
- Wearing sensitive shoes or sandals.
- Consuming common pain relievers like ibuprofen.
- Olive oil treatment.
When to Visit a doctor
If you experience any of the following signs of infection, you should see a doctor.
- Throbbing pain
- Feeling hot or warm around ingrown.
- Skin becomes red and over soft.
- Swelling and pus
Preparing for your appointment
You have to get ready with a list of questions during an appointment as follows
- Is this a temporary problem or a chronic?
- What treatment options are suitable for you?
- Are the results giving total recovery?
- Whether the ingrown recover up on waiting?
- What type of nail care is needed if the toe heals itself?
The common reason for your foot injury may be over-usage of the foot sole and inflammation. If you ignore such discomfort or pain, it may lead to various problems such as gangrene or stress fractures from pounding. So look for the best and most reliable clinic in Orange County, California, and meet an Irvine Podiatrist to improve your foot health.
You can book an appointment with Orange County podiatrist Dr. Sima Soltani. She is quite popular for treatments without surgery. She has more than 20 years of experience treating diabetic feet, fungal nails, plantar warts, ankle sprains, and more related to foot problems. Treatment processes at the Irvine clinic include Toenail Laser Treatment, Stem Cell Therapy, Custom Orthotics, and Bunion Surgery. Also, they offer insurance coverage and home care podiatry services.
Medical treatments for ingrown toenails
- If home treatment does not work, meet a foot specialist for your ingrown toenail problem.
- A foot specialist will decide whether the nail should be removed with the surgical process or cut away only the sides of your nail.
- To avoid reoccurring ingrown, your doctor will adjust the cotton on the edges of the nail. Also, they use a chemical compound like phenol to treat your toe.
- If your podiatrist has decided to take off the toenail, they will also remove the nail bed to prevent growing again.
- During the surgical process, they inject an anesthetic so that patient may not experience severe pain.
- After surgery, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and rest till recovery.
Toenail Laser Treatment
- Ingrown toenail laser treatment helps to relieve pain and prevents ingrown.
- Your podiatrist Irvine will trim your affected nail with the help of an FDA-approved laser device to detach your ingrown toenail root at the exact size.
- The heat generated by the laser device corrects the affected area of the toenail.
- You will experience fast recovery and only a few post-surgery complications.
After toenail surgery, you can have a pain reliever so that you can bear wet compressions to reduce swelling. Later, rest and keep your toe elevated for at least 12-24 hours. After the surgery, you are not supposed to go swimming or take hot baths immediately. You have to shower only when your podiatrist says that your foot has recovered.
Instead of all the mess, take preventive measures like correct trimming and wearing comfortable footwear. Keep your toes and feet healthy, and reduce the chances of getting any ingrown toenails in the first place.