Ingrown toenails aren’t just painful and unsightly, they can also lead to a serious bone infection if left untreated. But with the help of board-certified podiatrist Kerry Berg, DPM, of Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates, you can get fast and effective ingrown toenail relief right away. Schedule your ingrown toenail appointment at this state-of-the-art Colorado Springs, Colorado, clinic by clicking on the online scheduler or by calling the office directly.
Ingrown toenails develop as your toenail grows into your delicate skin tissue, which causes inflammation and irritation. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is poor pedicure practices. For instance, if you tear your toenails, cut them too short, or round out the edges, you risk developing an ingrown toenail.
But this painful condition can also occur for other reasons. You might have an ingrown toenail due to:
Because an ingrown toenail can quickly become infected, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms, so you know when to seek medical care.
Your nails should appear clear to opaque, with bright healthy skin surrounding them. If you look down and see that the skin around your toenail is red and swollen, you might have an ingrown toenail forming. As the toenail continues to become ingrown, you may experience:
These signs and symptoms let you know that your ingrown toenail is probably becoming infected. Before your ingrown toenail gets any worse, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Berg at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates.
Treating an ingrown toenail is a simple in-office procedure.
Ingrown toenail surgery, performed right in the office at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates, begins with thoroughly numbing your toe and using a cold spray to make the injection process more comfortable. Dr. Berg gently trims away the ingrown part of your nail with a very small scalpel. A lot of the nail that is ingrowing is below the skin. The area is inspected for complete removal. A chemical is placed in the area of nail removal to prevent regrowth. Dr. Berg counsels you on how to care for your nail bed as it heals. The entire process is virtually painless and requires no downtime.
If you’re a chronic ingrown toenail sufferer because of an abnormal nail shape, Dr. Berg might recommend removing the entire nail. She can treat the growth center of your nail to permanently stop growth. This type of treatment is typically the last resort, though.
You don’t have to live with ingrown toenails another day with the help of the team at Intermountain Foot & Ankle Associates. Schedule your appointment online or over the phone.
