When you trim your toenails too short or you wear shoes that tend to squeeze your toes, you’re putting yourself at risk for developing ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails can be painful and can cause infections to occur. It’s important to take care of your feet and find out how you can reduce some of the pain that you might receive from an ingrown toenail. Dr. Ranieri at Lake Ridge Podiatry in Woodbridge, VA, can explain how you can stop suffering from ingrown toenails and how to prevent them from happening again in the future.

How to Deal with Ingrown Toenails

When you’re dealing with an ingrown toenail, the nail is growing into the side of the skin, and it can be painful and cause infection. This often occurs because the toenails have been trimmed too short and begin to grow incorrectly. They can become sore and red and skin might start to grow over the ingrown nail.

Luckily, it’s fairly simple to relieve pain from an ingrown toenail at home. You should be sure to soak the foot in warm, soapy water several times a day and avoid wearing tight shoes and socks. If there’s an infection with your ingrown toenails, your podiatrist in Woodbridge, VA, may prescribe an antibiotic to stop that infection.

In severe cases, you may need to remove part of the toenail so that it can start over and grow correctly. It’s important to prevent ingrown toenails by making sure that you cut your nails straight across and avoid rounded corners. You should also make sure that your shoes and socks properly fit and that your feet stay clean.

Contact Your Podiatrist Today

Don’t suffer from the pain of an ingrown toenail. Contact Dr. Ranieri at Lake Ridge Podiatry in Woodbridge, VA, to learn how you can deal with ingrown toenails. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment at (703) 491-2603.