Ingrown Toenail Removal & Treatment

Ingrown toenails are treatable without surgery but in severe cases a small medical procedure to remove them. When noticed in the early stages ingrown toenails can be treated at home. However, in severe cases toenails even become infected and patients will need to see an ingrown toenail doctor for advice for ingrown toenail treatment and possibly a toenail removal surgery.

An ingrown toenail is when the toenail grows into the skin at the wedges. The condition is common in the big toe and small toe. The risk factors include improper trimming and tight-fitting footwear. Some of the home-fix ingrown toenail practices include soaking feet in warm water, wearing sandals, or shoes with a wide toe box, and keeping the foot clean for it to heal on its own. Dirt may present infection risk and one is supposed to see a doctor immediately. If you are looking for some expert advice on ingrown toenail treatment, you may want to seek help from a Houston podiatrist. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment for your ingrown toenail problems. Our foot specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. If you have an underlying medical condition get us to treat the condition to avoid complications. Ingrown toenails irritate the skin on the wedges making it easy for microbes and bacteria. Signs of infection include

1. A fever
2. Swelling
3. Extreme pain
4. Pus
5. Redness

When the toenail is inflamed or swollen and it does not get better your podiatrist will diagnose and prescribe antibiotics. A special splint may be prescribed to prevent the toenail from digging deeper into the skin. If all the treatments do not work the doctor may recommend surgery.

Ingrown toenail surgery involves local anesthesia where the toe is numbed. Sometimes the doctor may offer twilight anesthesia where one remains awake but may not remember the procedure. When the patient prefers general anesthesia, it may take longer to prepare but it is a good option for people who are anxious about surgery.

Ingrown toenail removal procedure includes:

• Wedge resection – In this procedure, the podiatrist removes a part of the toenail where it digs into the skin. This is also known as partial nail avulsion.
• Complete nail plate avulsion – The doctor may decide to remove the entire toenail. Removing the entire nail will mean the nail might grow back deformed or misshapen increasing the risk of recurrence. The toenail might take 18 months to fully regrow.
• Surgery on the tip of the toe is done when previous procedures fail. The podiatrist reshapes or removes the soft tissue at the tip of the toe.
• Total ingrown toenail removal known as matrixectomy involves the removal of the nail and the nail bed. It is done when the wedge resection fails.
• While performing any of these procedures the foot doctor might cut deep into the nail bed to relieve swelling and drain infected tissue.
• After surgery one is required to keep the wound bandaged, clean, and dry. Avoid strenuous activity that will put pressure on the nail until you are healed. Always soak the foot in a solution of Epsom salt and warm water and use the antibiotic ointment as directed by the doctor. Take NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help with swelling and pain.

Houston Pediatric Foot Specialist

When it comes to your child’s feet, studies show that children between 2 to 6 years need a change of shoe size every few months. Rapid child growth means continuous monitoring and check-up by Houston pediatric foot specialist. Deformities and foot disorders in children might occur without any warning signs, it is why you need frequent visits to the podiatrist for close monitoring to maintain foot health. Our pediatric foot doctor is experienced in treating different ankle and foot conditions in teenagers and children who are still physically developing. The expert care provided ensures that your child’s feet are relaxed and comfortable throughout treatment for feet conditions. Pediatric podiatry is different because it takes a specialist who understands foot bone development to treat a child’s foot and ankle injuries to treat the problems. The best pediatric podiatrist near me understands issues that affect children, adolescents, and infants. Some of these issues include gait issues, athlete’s foot, flat foot, plantar warts, heel pain, growth plate injuries, and ingrown toenails. Heel pain is caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate. For athletic children overuse of the foot from jumping, running, and pounding irritates the heel growth plate. Children might experience foot pain when they have a flat foot but one obvious sign is the child’s withdrawal from physical activities.

A Houston pediatric foot specialist will help you maintain pediatric foot health and avoid common mistakes. A child’s feet are slowly learning how to stabilize, support the body weight, and absorb shock.

Some things to take note of include

·         Avoid tight shoes and socks. Tight shoes and socks will hinder the foot’s natural growth and hinder movement. Have your child’s feet loosely covered to help the feet kick freely and move without restrictions.

·     Choose the right footwear for your child. Ensure that the footwear is comfortable, if you observe signs of discomfort it’s time to change the footwear. When dealing with a child do not rely on the break-in period for tight shoes, so the shoes should be comfortable from the first day. Please note that both feet are not the same size so you need to buy larger shoes for your child. Lastly, no pair of shoes fits every situation, so buy appropriate footwear for sports and other activities to keep them safe and comfortable.

·    Clip the child’s toenails regularly to prevent ingrown toenails. Signs of ingrown toenails include pain, tenderness, and swelling in the edges of the toenails.

·        Change the footwear frequently to accommodate the growth of the feet.

·     Keep the feet dry and clean to decrease fungal and bacteria invasions. Fungus thrives in moisture, so clean and thoroughly dry between the toes.

·     Always check your child’s feet for unusual symptoms or injuries to the feet. Check for deformities that do not seem to resolve but require medical attention. Regular checkup that will identify these problems early means easy treatment that will ensure the healing of the conditions before they become severe or permanent.