When you treat a foot condition, you hope that’s the last time you’ll have to worry about the issue. Unfortunately, some foot and ankle conditions return even when you are proactive in your treatment. One such condition that can come back time and time again is an ingrown toenail. So how can you put an end to this uncomfortable condition once and for all? In today’s blog, Dr. Silverman provides some tips for preventing an ingrown toenail from returning.
Preventing Ingrown Toenails From Coming Back
Ingrown toenails can develop for a couple of different reasons, but the main underlying factors tend to be acute trauma to the nail or repetitive stress in an ill-fitting shoe. Of these two factors, it’s the poor-fitting shoes that tends to lead to recurring ingrown toenails. Patients who fail to swap out their poor-fitting shoes for a roomier and more supportive pair may be doomed to suffer subsequent ingrown toenails, so one of the first changes you’ll want to make if you’re serious about stopping a recurrence is to check your footwear.
Besides switching to a roomier shoe, some ways that you can work to keep ingrown toenails from coming back include:
Trimming Improvements – Your foot specialist can talk with you about the proper way to trim your nails. It may sound simple, but oftentimes people cut their nails down too low or they try to round the corners of their nail, both of which can greatly increase your risk of an ingrown toenail. Taking less off your nails and keeping the brim straight can reduce your risk of a recurrence.
Surgical Removal – While surgery is typically viewed as a last resort, it can be quite effective at not only treating the problem but preventing it from returning in the future. An orthopedic specialist can perform a partial or complete nail removal, and when paired with simple efforts during recovery (like custom orthotics, footwear changes and healthy cleaning habits), you can reduce your risk of a subsequent ingrown toenail.
Nail Avulsion – For a more permanent fix, you may consider a nail avulsion treatment. During this procedure, part of the nail is surgically removed, and then the nail bed is addressed with a laser or chemical treatment to prevent the nail from regrowing.
In most instances, you can prevent an ingrown toenail from returning by following some of these treatment tips and then making sure to switch to a shoe with a roomier toe box. However, if you continue to be plagued by ingrown toenails, it may be time to talk with a foot specialist to learn about your surgical options. Most surgeries can be completed in just a couple minutes once the numbing agent kicks in, and you will be able to walk out of the clinic the same day. Dr. Silverman has performed countless surgeries to rectify an ingrown toenail, and he can help you find a permanent solution to your nail issue.
For more information about ingrown toenails or another foot and ankle condition, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today at (952) 224-8500.
