When something is a “thorn in [your] side,” it’s a source of irritation. This colloquialism makes sense, since anything that pierces the skin is going to be, at the very best, unpleasant. Anyone who has ever had a toenail become ingrown—and many people face this problem every day—can certainly attest to this fact.

Now, we are happy to help you overcome the pain and discomfort from this common nail problem at our Massapequa office. If your case isn’t particularly severe and doesn’t repeatedly come back, there’s a decent chance we can even do so with conservative treatment. Of course, we’re quite sure you would rather simply prevent ingrown toenails from happening in the first place!Prevent ingrown toenails

The good news is that many (but not all) cases of ingrown toenails can be prevented. To do so, you will need to follow some fairly easy guidelines, including:

  • Protect your feet. Sometimes, toenails become ingrown following physical trauma. Many of these cases can be attributed to something heavy falling on feet. If you work with heavy objects, you should wear safety shoes or steel-toed boots to keep your toes and feet safe. If you are going to move large or heavy items at home, ask a loved one or friend to help.
  • Trim your toenails the right way. Another possible cause is nails that have been cut too short and/or rounded off when being trimmed. A good rule of thumb to reduce your risk of this common problem is to clip them straight across and keep them roughly even with the edge of the toe.

These prevention methods can certainly reduce your risk, but it’s important to know that one of the causes of ingrown toenails is unnaturally curved nails. When this is the root cause, all of the prevention measures in the world will not be enough to make a difference. Further, the problem will continue to develop. As such, we may recommend removing the nail permanently (unless there are other ways to address the situation).

No matter if you have a toenail that continually becomes ingrown, are experiencing severe pain, or diabetes is in the picture – come see Massapequa Podiatry Associates for professional care. We will provide care to resolve the problem, and then help you take measures to keep it from happening again! Call us at (516) 541-9000 if you would like more information or need to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Corey Fox
Connect with me
Long Island Podiatrist serving Massapequa and all of Nassau County
Post A Comment