After some unanticipated technical difficulties, we here at On Your Feet are back online and proud to resume blogging! We herald our return by discussing one of the more common sights to any podiatrist: the ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis. If you feel pain around the sides of your toenail, or if they appear red, the nail has probably grown into the side of the foot and is digging in. Furthermore, redness is a sign of infection, and your podiatrist will prescribe antibiotics.
Ingrown toenails arise in various ways. Sometimes you cut your nail too short, changing the way it grows. Other times, you might bump your foot, and that is the cause. And then, you might just be born with it.
You can attempt to deal with an ingrown nail on your own by soaking it and wearing shoes with a wider toe box. Your podiatrist can also treat an ingrown toenail surgically. However, to call it a surgery is a bit of an overstatement, since you will be wide awake and perfectly capable of walking out of the office under your own power. The podiatrist will simply numb up your toe, and trim away the portion of the nail causing irritation. He or she might also apply chemicals to ensure that no further nail grows back.
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