What To Do When You Have An Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail occurs when the toenail is curved and begins to grow into the skin, which can cause irritation and inflammation. This could cause an infection and create pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe. An infection can occur if the toenail is left untreated and breaks the skin. It’s important that you know what to do when experiencing an ingrown toenail so that this doesn’t occur. Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute in Bozeman and Butte, MT, can explain what you should do when you experience an ingrown toenail.

Treating an Ingrown Toenail

Usually, an ingrown toenail can often be treated at home with conservative methods. You should talk to your podiatrist in Bozeman and Butte, MT, about treating your ingrown toenail before trying any of these at-home methods. If you’re dealing with pain and irritation, and there’s no apparent infection, you can soak your foot in room-temperature water. You can also add Epsom salt to the water to help calm irritation. While doing this, you should gently massage the side of the nail to help reduce inflammation.

If your symptoms don’t seem to get better, you should visit your podiatrist for further treatment. If there’s an infection, you may need an antibiotic first. For more severe cases, your doctor might need to remove part of the nail so that it can start fresh and properly grow. This minor surgery can be done in office and usually don’t take very long and you’ll feeling better in almost no time.

Contact Your Podiatrist Today!

Let ingrown toenail be a thing of the past! Contact Dr. Dallin Greene and Dr. Nathan Judd at Big Sky Foot & Ankle Institute in Bozeman and Butte, MT, to find out how to treat an ingrown toenail and start feeling comfortable again. Call for more information today at (406) 782-2278.