Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that can have wide-reaching effects on your health. Diabetic feet need special care as they’re particularly vulnerable to injury, infection, and possible amputation.
When a toenail starts to grow into the soft flesh of your toe, you have an ingrown toenail. The runaway nail may be the result of tight footwear, genetics, foot trauma, or poor toenail trimming techniques.
When you already have an ingrown nail, it doesn’t matter much why it happened. You just want relief. When at-home treatments like foot soaks and topical antibiotics don’t resolve your pain and swelling and redness persist, contact a professional like those at Hoosier Foot & Ankle.
We can help you resolve an ingrown toenail and prevent future ones. Our care is especially important if you suspect infection or have poor circulation.
Ask yourself the following to determine your next steps in ingrown toenail care.
Your ingrown toenail is probably affecting the big toe, though any toe can technically develop an ingrown nail. When the nail grows into your flesh, it understandably causes pain. If this pain is enough to stop you in your tracks and make you change your daily activity, it’s time to make an appointment with the podiatrists at Hoosier Foot & Ankle.
If you’re experiencing redness, swelling, or are oozing pus, it’s likely that your ingrown toenail is infected. A toe that’s warm to the touch is also probably suffering infection. You’ll need an antibiotic to wipe out the infection and prevent it from spreading to other areas. You would also benefit from expert care in cleaning up the area.
Although it’s rare, an infected ingrown toenail can lead to an infection in the bone.
If you have diabetes, it’s important you seek professional care when it comes to an ingrown toenail. Reduced circulation, because of diabetes or other conditions, can make it so the nerves in the area don’t transmit pain signals to your brain. You may not notice the pain of the ingrown toenail until it’s reached an advanced stage.
Plus, poor circulation means blood delivery is compromised, which means the wound doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to heal. In people with compromised circulation, an ingrown toenail can easily turn into a major infection. Don’t risk it – come to our office for care.
Foot soaks and application of an antibiotic cream usually help resolve ingrown toenails. In the future, make sure to trim your nails straight across, rather than with rounded edges, to discourage ingrown toenails.
But if these treatments don’t help and redness and pain in your toe is increasing, seek professional support. We can cut away the nail that’s embedded in your skin and even remove the part of your nail that’s causing problems.
An ingrown toenail may seem like a minor concern, but without the right treatment, it can turn into a major problem. Residents of Indiana should contact one of the offices of Hoosier Foot & Ankle by phone to get expert care or book online today.
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