At Mid Lake Foot and Ankle and Dr. Breanna Ferguson understands the problems caused by ingrown toenails for Tavares, FL, residents and will work hard to ensure that you get the help that you need. If you're not sure what to expect, here's what you need to know about this problem.
What Causes This Health Issue?
Ingrown nails occur when the side or corner of a nail grows into your soft flesh and causes excessive pain and inflammation at the site. Some ingrown nails might swell and even get infected and can become very painful. Most of the time, this condition is not potentially dangerous or deadly but can be concerning if you suffer from any complicating factors, such as:
- Diabetes that makes blood flow more difficult to your feet
- General blood flow issues that make the pain more difficult to tolerate
- Infections in and around the nail that potentially threaten your life
- Severe discomfort or pus around the sight that seems to spread
Ingrown nails can be caused by many different factors, including wearing tight shoes, cutting the nail too short, injuring the nail, and much more. If you have ingrown toenails in Tavares, FL, and want to manage it properly, it is important to work with us at Mid Lake Foot and Ankle with Dr. Ferguson to ensure that you manage this problem and keep your feet and toes safe.
Managing This Problem
While proper toe treatment and nail management can minimize this risk, some people may still develop an ingrown nail. If you kept your nails at a moderate length, wore properly fitting shoes, and even wore protective gear but still got an ingrown nail, it is important to get treatment for this issue.
Our team can carefully lift the nail away from the skin and place a protective barrier against it that keeps it from growing into the skin again. You will then soak the nail nightly and take various pain medications to ensure that your nail heals properly.
If this method doesn't work, we can also tape the nail, install a gutter splint, and even partially remove the nail to help it grow back safely. These steps are typically an outpatient procedure but may require checkups after the treatment to check on your development and how well your nail heals.
Take Good Care of Your Feet
At Mid Lake Foot and Ankle, Dr. Ferguson can provide treatment for ingrown toenails in Tavares, FL, to ensure that your feet are healthy and strong. Call us at (352) 432-8434 to learn more about our care options and to set up an inspection that can check your feet and make sure that they're okay.