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Having an infection in your toenails can be quite embarrassing, especially in the summer months when people notice your feet. Fortunately there are some cures and preventative measures you can take to restore the appearance of your toenails. Proper care of your feet is often the best remedy to protect your feet and maintain their health. Many people will have infections that are caused from some sort of physical injury such as jamming your toe during a sporting event. Whatever the cause of the infection, it is important to take appropriate care of your infection in order to maintain the health of your feet. Ingrown Toenails An ingrown toenail is a painful condition of the toe that occurs when a sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. Pain and inflammation at the spot where the nail curls into the skin occurs first. Afterwards, the inflamed area may begin to grow extra tissue or drain yellowish fluid. Ingrown toenails may be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity, or poor foot structure. Typically, the main cause of ingrown is simply trimming your nails too short. The ingrown will start out hard, swollen and tender. If left untreated, they may become red, sore, and infected causing the skin to grow over the ingrown toenail. In many cases, treating an ingrown toenail infection can be as easy as soaking your foot in warm, soapy water several times a day. In severe cases, if an acute infection occurs, surgical removal of part of the ingrown toenail may be needed. Take Precautions to Prevent Infection and Protect Your Feet As soon as you notice an ingrown toenail, treatment should begin as soon as possible. If excessive inflammation, swelling, pain or discharge is present, the toenail may be infected and should be treated by your podiatrist in Scottsdale. A podiatrist can trim or remove the infected nail with a minor in-office surgical procedure. Cutting your toe nails properly goes a long way toward the prevention of ingrown toenails. Regardless of the cause, understanding how to care for an ingrown toenail can help to prevent painful infections. In its earliest stage, an ingrown toenail can generally be cared for and successfully treated from home. For non-infected nails: • Soak your foot in warm water several times a day to relieve swelling and soreness
• Wash and dry your foot to keep the affected area clean
• Wear comfortable footwear with a wide toe box, or sandals when weather permitting
• Avoid cutting the nail as this can make the condition worse
• Over-the-counter medications may temporarily ease the pain, but don't heal the underlying problem If you are exhibiting any pain or infection in your toenail due to an ingrown toenail or any other infection, it is important that you seek medical attention from your podiatrist in Scottsdale. When an infection goes untreated, it can lead to other painful foot problems that can easily be avoided with treatment. Maintain proper foot and ankle health and visit your Scottsdale podiatrist to relieve your ailments.
Dr. Mark Forman is an experienced podiatrist in Scottsdale, AZ. Offering a wide array of foot and ankle care in a comfortable convenient setting, this Scottsdale podiatrist provides treatment for heel pain, orthotics and diabetic foot care among many foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Forman is currently the President of the Arizona Podiatric Medical Association.
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