If you think you have an ingrown toenail, there can be a lot of questions running through your mind when it comes to if you should see for this, and why. As a foot doctor, I perform hundreds of ingrown toenail removal surgeries per year. If you want to know my top reasons for seeing a foot doctor for ingrown toenails, continue to scroll below.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail is when your toenail grows into the skin and soft tissue of your toe. Signs and symptoms of an ingrown toenail can include redness, drainage, swelling, or pain at the nail or your toe. In cases of severe infection, you can start to experience fever or chills. An ingrown toenail most commonly affects the big toe but also can be seen with any toenail.
3 Signs to See a Foot Doctor for Ingrown Toenails
Swelling, redness, drainage, or pain of your toe
When the toe in question begins to swell, and become red, especially if this redness seems to be moving up your foot and getting worse, or if you have noticed pain in your toe; these are all signs that you should see a foot doctor for your ingrown toenail.
Once you start experiencing these symptoms, this can be a sign that the ingrown part of the nail, has actually broken the skin of your toe, which can increase your risk of infection.
Seeing a foot doctor for your ingrown toenail can help stop any potential problems in their tracks, by surgically removing the part of the nail causing the problem.
An ingrown toenail that doesn't get better on its own
Many people, when they notice they are starting to develop an ingrown toenail, will try to manage it at home by trimming the nail in certain ways to get rid of the painful corner, or soaking their toe in Epsom salt.
While these methods can be fine for temporary pain relief from an ingrown toenail, they will not get rid of the ingrown itself. This can be done through either ingrown toenail removal surgery or a non-surgical ingrown toenail correction, called Onyfix.
A nail that simply is not getting better is a good reason to see a foot doctor for ingrown toenails to discuss your treatment options.
Fever or chills
Having a fever, chills, or even nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, is a very important reason to see a foot doctor for an ingrown toenail.
These are all signs of serious infection, which at this point will require antibiotics, and surgical removal of the part of the ingrown toenail causing these problems.
These symptoms happen because the ingrown toenail has at some point, broken the skin of your toe, and allowed for bacteria to enter your body, causing the infection.
Seeing. a foot doctor, and if one is not available, going to your nearest ER or urgent care center, is key when you are having these symptoms.
Key Takeaways
Knowing when to see a foot doctor for ingrown toenails can be confusing. Symptoms like redness, swelling, or pain are reasons to see a foot doctor if they are not getting better with at-home management. Fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are symptoms that are a sign of severe infection, and an alarm signal that you should be seen by a doctor immediately.
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Are you looking for a podiatrist in Phoenix? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. To view my available appointment times, click here.
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