All that You Wanted Know About Treating Ingrown Toenails in Los Angeles
When the edge of your toenail grows into the surrounding skin, the ingrown toenail occurs. This prevalent issue often arises from trimming toenails with rounded corners. In most cases, ingrown toenails are not a severe concern and can be managed with self-care.
However, if you are living in Los Angeles and have diabetes or suspect an infection, it is advisable to seek medical attention at Eazy Foot & Ankle for your ingrown toenails Pico Robertson, Beverly Hills.
What are ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails emerge when the edges of your nails penetrate the skin of your toe. This situation can result in ongoing discomfort and heighten the likelihood of infection.
A prevalent trigger for ingrown toenails is improper or overly short nail trimming. Additionally, you might have an elevated susceptibility to developing ingrown toenails if you suffer due to:
- Fungal infection
- Having curved toenails
- Toe injuries
- Wearing tight shoes
Diabetes and a few other medical issues, which may end up with inadequate blood circulation, generally cause such ingrown toenail development.
Symptoms
These are the symptoms of ingrown toenail:
- Infection
- Inflamed skin
- Pain and tenderness
- Swelling.
When should you see a doctor
When the following conditions occur, then you must see your health care professional:
- If you are experiencing intense toe pain
- Observe pus or notice inflamed skin that appears to be spreading
- You also have diabetes or another condition that results in insufficient blood flow to your feet
- If you have a foot sore or infection.
How can an ingrown toenail be diagnosed?
Self-diagnosis is possible by assessing your symptoms, along with the appearance and sensation in your toe. Your healthcare provider, who might be your primary practitioner or a specialized foot expert known as a podiatrist, will typically confirm an ingrown toenail diagnosis through visual examination.
They will carefully observe the skin around the nail’s edge. A diagnosis of this foot condition is probable if the skin displays the following characteristics:
- Growing over your nail.
- Looks different compared to your other toes.
- Painful to light touch.
- Swollen, warm, tender, and red/darker in color.
If the discomfort from your ingrown toenail is too intense for home remedies, it is advisable to arrange an appointment with a local podiatrist in Los Angeles.
A skilled professional in this area can trim the nail to prevent further growth into the skin and alleviate the pain. Also, a podiatrist can administer a certain topical antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection. If the nail has already penetrated the skin deeply, then surgical intervention is the only remedy.