Suffering from the pain and discomfort of ingrown toenails? Dr. Fawaz Nesheiwat, Dr. Kyle Alessi, and Dr. Barry Mullen at Foot Care Associates in Hackettstown, serving Washington, NJ, offer personalized relief for your needs. 

Guide to Ingrown Toenails 

 An ingrown toenail can be painful to deal with. It can hurt to walk or even put your foot inside a shoe. However, they can be prevented and treated when you know what causes. 

How Do I Know If I Have an Ingrown Toenail?

 Having an ingrown toenail typically means that your nail is digging into your skin. At a minimum, this will cause some redness and discomfort. You will likely notice swelling and your toe might even feel like it’s burning. 

If the toenail isn’t addressed in time to stop it from breaking through the skin, an infection will usually develop. You might notice a foul smell, and there will likely be pus draining out. 

What Causes an Ingrown Toenail? 

 In some cases, it occurs due to simple genetics. In short, your toenails might be too big for the nail bed, making it more likely that they’ll dig into the skin. Toenail infections can also play a role, as can an accident like stubbing your toe that can damage the nail.

In most cases, however, they are due to improper foot care. Two of the most common causes are wearing shoes that are too tight in the toe box and trimming your nails too short or at a curve. Wearing shoes that give your toes plenty of space, keeping unnecessary pressure off your toes, and trimming them straight across can go a long way in prevention. 

How Can They Be Treated? 

 For most people, simple changes, such as new shoes, along with foot soaks can provide relief. However, it’s important to see your podiatrist to ensure that there is no infection present or other issues to address. 

Once your toe has been assessed, Dr. Nesheiwat, Dr. Alessi, and Dr. Mullen at Foot Care Associates in Hackettstown, serving Washington, NJ, can provide personalized guidance for addressing ingrown toenails. This guidance can include steps to take at home, as well as antibiotics and toenail removal, when necessary. 

Get personalized guidance and treatment for ingrown toenails and other foot concerns by visiting Dr. Nesheiwat, Dr. Alessi, and Dr. Mullen at Foot Care Associates in Hackettstown, serving Washington, NJ. Call (908) 852-0229 to schedule an appointment today.