How your podiatrist in Abingdon, MD, can help if you have an ingrown toenail.
If you look down at your feet and see a swollen, dark toe, you could have an ingrown toenail. You may feel pressure and pain underneath the toenail too. Fortunately, you can do a lot to prevent ingrown toenails.
Dr. Michael Block is a podiatrist in Abingdon, MD, and serving Bel Air, MD, who provides a wide range of foot and ankle services, including treatment of ingrown toenails.
Let’s look at 5 ways you can prevent ingrown toenails:
- Don’t cut your toenails too short
- Cut your toenails straight across, with no rounded corners
- Wear shoes with plenty of toe room so your toes don’t get crushed
- Wear shoes that are appropriate for the activity you are doing
- Examine your feet and toes regularly to look for injuries
If you do get an ingrown toenail, don’t panic. There are several easy home remedies you can try to get relief. Consider:
- Soaking your toe in warm water every day
- Place dental floss underneath your toenail to push it off your skin
- Apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream underneath your toenail
- Bandage your toe to cushion and support it
- Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication
If your ingrown toenail doesn’t respond to home remedies, it’s time to seek out your podiatrist. Professional treatments for ingrown toenails include:
- Lifting your toenail off of the skin around it, allowing your toenail to grow freely
- Trimming off the ingrown section of your toenail so your toenail can grow freely
- Removing the entire toenail so a healthy toenail can grow in its place
Don’t let an ingrown toenail go untreated. Ingrown toenails can become a big problem, resulting in increased foot and toe pain and infection. Your podiatrist can treat your ingrown toenail and get you back on your feet.
To learn more about the prevention and treatment of ingrown toenails, call Dr. Michael Block in Abingdon, MD, and serving Bel Air, MD, at (410) 569-0445. Call today.