Ingrown Toenails

What causes an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail is caused by the nail growing into the flesh at the end of the toe. Clipping the toenails too short may result in a sharpened edge, that may cut through the flesh of the toe as it grows back to its normal length. If the nails are kept extremely short, the flesh around the nail bed may begin to grow over the end of the nail, resulting in an ingrown toenail.

What happens if an ingrown toenail becomes infected?

If an ingrown toenail becomes infected, Dr. Redd will remove the nail or a portion of it to eliminate pressure, and allow the pus to drain. He will also cut away any excess skin or tissue that has grown over the edge of the nail, allowing the nail to grow freely without cutting into the tissue. Then an antibiotic ointment will be applied to the area and sealed with a bandage.

Dr. Redd will sometimes prescribe an oral antibiotic to help fight the infection internally, and to ensure that the infection is fully addressed. If you have an ingrown toenail that is causing extreme discomfort, Dr. Redd offers surgical procedures to help correct the problem and prevent the area from becoming infected.

Will ingrown toenails return?

Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful and are easily infected. If you have an ingrown toenail removed, it may return simply because of how the skin heals. The shape and form of the patient’s toe may also have something to do with how the toenail grows.

Dr. Redd may have to remove the tissue over the edge of the toenail several times until the nail grows out far enough so that it won’t cut into the tissue.