An ingrown toenail is an injury that can occur due to several different causes, including improperly fitted shoes or socks that crowd your toenails, which is the most common cause of ingrown toenails, congenital issues where the nail grows too large for the toe, and more. Other causes of ingrown toenails include the following:

– Trimming your toenails too short
– Abnormally curved toenails
– Toenail injuries from stubbing your toe, someone stepping on your toe, or repetitive force upon the toenail, such as from kicking a soccer ball

After treatment, it may take seven days to two weeks for the ingrown toenail to grow out enough so that it does not poke or curl into the skin any longer. If treatment necessitates that the ingrown toenail or part of the ingrown toenail has to be removed, you can expect the nail to grow back within 12 months. The majority of ingrown toenails are not recurring. However, the overall recurrence rate for ingrown toenails is between 10 and 34 percent.

Treatment for an ingrown toenail varies according to the severity of the ingrown toenail and whether it has become infected or not.

As such, a minor ingrown toenail that is not infected will typically be treated conservatively by elevating the nail followed by soaking the nail in warm water, wearing properly fitted shoes, and frequently cleaning the nail until it is healed.

With more moderate ingrown toenails, your podiatrist may also treat the ingrown toenail by placing a splint or dental floss underneath the nail to separate it from the overlying skin and help it to grow out on top of the skin.

Severe ingrown toenails may require partial removal of the nail or surgical removal of the nail and nail bed. If the ingrown toenail is infected, your podiatrist will prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

Ingrown toenails require some form of intervention for them to heal. With that in mind, it is essential not to ignore an ingrown toenail if you have one, as this can lead to infection or worsening of the injury. While mild ingrown toenails can be treated with at-home remedies, it is a good idea to consult with a doctor or podiatrist about such remedies before attempting them. After treating the ingrown toenail, the majority of cases of ingrown toenails clear up within one to two weeks. With that being said, some severe or infected ingrown toenails may require more time to heal.

For more information about ingrown toenails or to schedule an appointment with one of our ingrown toenail specialists at Finesse Footcare in Lyndhurst, Ohio, we welcome you to give us a call or make an appointment with us through our website! You can find Finesse Footcare at the convenient location of 5035 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst, Ohio. We serve patients from Lyndhurst OH, Chagrin Falls OH, Beachwood OH, Collinwood OH, Pepper Pike OH, Woodmere OH, Hunting Valley OH and surrounding areas.