Ingrown Toenail

About Ingrown Toenail

Ingrown toenails are a common condition, but if they’re not treated they can become infected and lead to serious complications. Dr. Neil Zwiebel — expert podiatrist at Park East Podiatry in New York, New York — resolves the pain of ingrown toenails and clears up any infections. If you have an ingrown toenail and live or work in the New York City or surrounding areas, call the Park East Podiatry staff or book a consultation online.

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

What’s an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenail is a nail that curls downward and grows into the skin at the edge of your toe. Nails on the big toe are especially susceptible to becoming ingrown.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

You can tell if you have an ingrown toenail if you see the edge of your nail disappearing into the flesh at the edge of your toenail. Other symptoms include:

Pain
Swelling
Redness

If your ingrown toenail has become infected you may also notice pus oozing out of your toe or smell a foul odor. If your toenail is infected, you should contact Park East Podiatry immediately.

How did I get an ingrown toenail?

You may be more susceptible to ingrown toenails if you have naturally curved toenails. In most cases, ingrown toenails are caused by simple things, such as:

Cutting your toenail too short
Rounding, rather than squaring off, your toenail
Injuring your toe or toenail
Wearing shoes that crowd your toes and toenails

What happens if I don’t treat an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails are prone to infection. The infection can even spread to your bones. If you have diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or another condition that affects your circulation or nerves, you are more susceptible to the serious complications of an untreated ingrown toenail. You should contact Dr. Zwiebel immediately.

How do podiatrists treat ingrown toenails?

You can try treating your ingrown toenail by soaking your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. After you dry your feet, gently lift the nail that’s embedded in your skin and insert a dry piece of cotton or waxed dental floss underneath it for support.

If home remedies don’t resolve your ingrown toenail, or if it is painful or infected, you should contact Dr. Zwiebel. He may treat the nail with a splint that allows the nail to grow straight.

If your toe is infected, he may numb your toe with local anesthetic and then trim or remove the nail that was growing underneath the skin. In cases of recurrent ingrown toenail, Dr. Zwiebel may use lasers or chemicals to permanently remove the area of your toenail and nail bed that’s causing the problem.

Whether your ingrown toenail is painful or infected, contact Dr. Zwiebel for evaluation and treatment to avoid complications. You can phone his friendly staff or use the online form.