Ingrown toenails, where the toenail begins to grow into the skin surrounding it, often begin as nothing but a nuisance. Unfortunately, they can lead to infection if not properly treated. If you take good care of your ingrown toenail at home, however, you may be able to prevent your condition from worsening.
If you've ever had an ingrown toenail, you know it can be an annoying and sometimes painful experience. In some cases, it can be serious, especially if you have diabetes. Dr. Katherine Machado can help you with problems related to ingrown toenails in Miami, FL. When you visit the Machado Foot & Ankle Center, you have a range of expert treatments to help you with any foot problem.
What Is An Ingrown Toenail?
It’s obvious when you have an ingrown toenail. This nail growth happens when the nail begins to grow into the skin. It usually occurs on the big toe. For most people, an ingrown toenail is not a life-threatening thing, but it can cause you pain. The affected toe may also begin to swell around the area that the nail has grown into.
Why Is Treatment Important?
An ingrown toenail can become infected. You know you have an infected toenail if pus or blood begins to ooze out. For someone who has diabetes, it can be especially alarming. After all, diabetics may have nerve damage, so they may not be able to feel issues in their feet unless they check them daily. Therefore, if they have an infected ingrown toenail that has worsened, it can lead to worse problems such as amputations.
How Can You Treat It?
One way for Dr. Machado to help with ingrown toenails in Miami, FL, is with advanced laser treatment. Patients can rest assured that laser treatment on their feet to reduce the nail is very safe. It's a process that only lasts about 20 minutes. It's a good option when constantly dealing with chronic ingrown toenail growth. This type of treatment can help reduce the chances of pain, discomfort, and infection. For less severe cases, we can also provide treatments to lift the nailbed out of the skin.
The doctor can also advise on the best way to clip your toenails at home. Try to prevent such growth from happening by not cutting your toenails too short. You also shouldn't cut them to have rounded edges. Use a proper-sized nail clipper to trim them slowly and avoid nipping the skin.
If you have any foot problem that you need help with, you can trust the staff at Machado Foot & Ankle Center. Dr. Machado can handle nail or foot trauma, deformities, psoriasis, and more. When you need relief from ingrown toenails in Miami, FL, call us at 305-385-9494 for an appointment.