Ingrown toenails are unsightly and uncomfortable. The pressure and pain can make it difficult to wear shoes, stand, and walk. The podiatrists at Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists provide comprehensive podiatry services, including treatment of ingrown toenails. They have two convenient office locations in Fredericksburg, and Stafford, VA.

What You Need to Know about Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails grow inward into your skin, causing pain, pressure, swelling, and bruising around your toenail. There are several factors which can cause an ingrown toenail, including:

  • Having toenails that curve under naturally
  • Experiencing an injury to your toe or nail
  • Cutting your toenails too short
  • Wearing narrow, pointed toe shoes

There are steps you can take to help prevent ingrown toenails. Remember to:

  • Avoid cutting your toenails too short
  • Cut your toenails straight across and don’t round the corners
  • Wear protective, supportive shoes to avoid a toe or toenail injury
  • Always wear shoes with plenty of room to avoid crushing your toes together

For occasional ingrown toenails, you can try a few simple steps like these:

  • Soaking your toe in warm water three times daily
  • Placing a small piece of dental floss underneath your toenail to keep it above your skin
  • Applying antibiotic cream and bandage your ingrown toenail

For relief of frequent ingrown toenails, it’s best to visit your podiatrist, who offers several effective treatments for ingrown toenails. Your podiatrist may recommend:

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

Call Your Podiatrist Today

To find out more about the causes and treatment of ingrown toenails, call the podiatrists at Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists. You can reach them in Fredericksburg, VA, by calling (540) 371-2724, or in Stafford, VA, by calling (540) 720-0674, so call today.