What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenails can be painful and ugly. The pounding and pressure underneath your toenails can make it difficult to put on shoes. The good news is your podiatrist knows just what to do for your ingrown toenail. Dr. Mitra Tabassian in Inglewood, CA, provides comprehensive podiatry services, including treatment of ingrown toenails.

What You Need To Know About Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common problem, and they can be caused by:

• Damage to your toenails
• Cutting your toenails too short
• Wearing shoes without enough toe room

You are also more likely to develop ingrown toenails if your toenails naturally curve under. Prevention is the key to ingrown toenails. To help prevent ingrown toenails, you need to:

• Avoid cutting your toenails too short
• Cut your toenails straight across with no rounded corners
• Always wear shoes that protect your toes
• Wear shoes with plenty of room for your toes

You can try to treat occasional ingrown toenails yourself. Follow these simple steps:

• Soak your toe in warm water for 15 minutes 3 times daily
• Place a small piece of dental floss underneath your toenail to keep it away from the surrounding skin
• Apply antibiotic cream and bandages to your ingrown toenail
• Cushion your toe with cotton or bandages
• Wear open shoes to allow your toe to heal

If you have frequent ingrown toenails, or ingrown toenails that don’t respond to home therapies, you need to seek out the expertise of your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Lifting and separating the toenail from the skin around it
• Trimming off the ingrown part of your nail to allow your toenail to grow freely
• Removing the toenail completely, so a new, healthy toenail can grow

Want To Know More?

To find out more about the causes and treatment of ingrown toenails, talk with an expert–your podiatrist. Call Dr. Mitra Tabassian in Inglewood, CA. You can reach her in the office by calling (310) 671-0004, so call today.