An ingrown toenail may start as a tender spot along the side of your toe, but as it progresses, it can become hard to ignore. Over time, your shoes, walking, and even the rub of a bedsheet can hurt.
Mild cases sometimes improve with home care. But when pain keeps building, or your skin starts looking infected, trying to handle the problem yourself can make it worse.
Podiatrist Edward Tjoe, DPM, and the care team at Tjoe Podiatry in downtown Jersey City are here to help. We treat painful and recurring nail problems by evaluating your unique situation and needs.
Keep reading to learn when an ingrown toenail needs professional care and how a podiatrist can help.
An ingrown toenail develops when the side or corner of your nail presses into the surrounding skin. The big toe is affected most often, but it’s possible to get an ingrown toenail on any digit.
Cutting your nail too short or rounding the corners can encourage this problem. Tight shoes, repeated pressure, toe injuries, and the natural shape of your nail can also play a role.
For a mild ingrown nail, conservative treatments can help. For example, try soaking your foot in warm water and wearing shoes with plenty of toe room to ease irritation. Avoid digging into the nail or cutting out the painful corner yourself.
Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or pus around the nail can point to infection. Redness that spreads, worsening pain, or fever are also signs that it’s time to seek medical attention.
See Dr. Tjoe if the pain persists, returns, or makes it difficult to wear shoes and walk comfortably. Ongoing symptoms usually mean the nail needs more targeted care.
If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced feeling in your feet, don’t wait for any of the above symptoms to develop before seeking care. These conditions raise the risk of complications and make early evaluation especially important.
Dr. Tjoe examines the toe to see how deeply the nail is embedded and whether infection is present. For a mild case, he may gently free the nail edge and show you how to care for the area as it grows out.
When the nail is more painful, inflamed, or keeps returning, Dr. Tjoe may numb the toe and remove the problem section. Antibiotics may be prescribed, but they’re usually only used for infection that has spread beyond your immediate nail area.
Recurrent cases may also need more involved treatment to stop that edge from growing back. Dr. Tjoe discusses all of your treatment options with you.
If the pain is changing the way you walk, making shoes uncomfortable, or returning again and again, it’s time to stop trying to manage it on your own.
An ingrown toenail is easier to treat before swelling, infection, or overgrown skin develops around the nail.
At Tjoe Podiatry, Dr. Tjoe examines the nail, checks for infection, and recommends treatment based on the severity of the problem, ensuring your feet return to being as comfortable and healthy as possible.
If you’re concerned about an ingrown toenail, don’t wait. Call our Jersey City office or request an appointment online today to get help.
