An ingrown toenail is a painful condition characterized by the nail digging into the surrounding skin, leading to inflammation and possible infection of the toe. This is a serious condition for people with impaired circulation, diabetes or other systemic diseases.
Causes: - Heredity
- Improper nail trimming
- Trauma
- Shoe pressure
What can you do? - Trim nails straight across as a preventive measure.
- Select the proper shoe style and size.
What might the podiatrist do? - Perform a physical exam of the foot
- Take an x-ray
- Culture the nail
- Prescribe appropriate medications, such as antibiotics
- Perform surgical correction of the nail when indicated.
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