What Are Ingrown Toenails?
An ingrown toenail develops when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin. This can cause tenderness, redness, swelling, and sometimes infection. Ingrown toenails most often affect the big toe, although other toenails can also become ingrown.
Some mild cases may improve with changes in nail care and footwear, but painful, infected, or recurring ingrown toenails should be evaluated by a podiatrist. At New Mexico Foot & Ankle Institute, our Albuquerque skin and nail specialists diagnose and treat ingrown toenails and other painful toenail conditions.
Primary Causes of Ingrown Toenails
Several factors can contribute to the development of an ingrown toenail:
- Improper Nail Trimming: Cutting toenails too short or rounding the corners can encourage the nail edge to grow into the surrounding skin. Toenails should generally be trimmed straight across rather than curved deeply at the corners.
- Tight or Narrow Footwear: Shoes that compress the toes can push the nail against the surrounding skin and increase pressure along the nail edges.
- Genetic Predisposition: Some people naturally have curved, thick, or unusually shaped toenails that are more likely to become ingrown.
- Foot Trauma: Stubbing a toe, dropping an object on the foot, or experiencing repetitive pressure can damage the nail and alter the way it grows.
- Activity and Lifestyle Factors: Running, sports, and other activities that place repeated pressure on the toes may increase the risk of an ingrown nail, especially when combined with poorly fitting footwear.
Professional Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Treatment depends on how deeply the nail has grown into the skin, whether infection is present, and whether the problem has happened before. Our podiatrists provide professional ingrown toenail treatment in Albuquerque designed to relieve pain while reducing the risk of recurrence.
Conservative Treatment
Milder cases may be treated without permanently altering the nail. Depending on the condition of the toe, care may include:
- Professional trimming or correction of the nail edge
- Reducing pressure from footwear
- Keeping the toe clean and protected
- Treating infection when medically necessary
Partial Nail Removal
When a nail edge has grown deeply into the surrounding skin, a podiatrist may remove only the problematic portion of the nail. This relieves pressure while allowing the remaining healthy nail to stay in place.
Treatment for Recurring Ingrown Toenails
For ingrown toenails that repeatedly return, treatment may include addressing part of the nail matrix so the problematic edge is less likely to grow back. Your podiatrist will recommend the most appropriate procedure based on the severity and recurrence of the problem.
How to Help Prevent Ingrown Toenails
Trim Toenails Properly
- Trim toenails straight across.
- Avoid cutting nails excessively short.
- Do not dig deeply into the corners of the nail.
- Use clean, sharp nail clippers.
Choose Properly Fitting Footwear
- Select shoes with enough room for your toes.
- Avoid footwear that repeatedly compresses the front or sides of the toes.
- Replace shoes that no longer fit properly or create pressure over the nails.
Practice Good Foot Hygiene
- Keep the feet clean and dry.
- Change damp socks promptly.
- Protect your feet from repetitive trauma when participating in sports or physical activities.
Ingrown Toenails and Diabetes
An ingrown toenail deserves extra attention if you have diabetes, neuropathy, poor circulation, or another condition that affects healing. A small break in the skin around the toenail can develop into a more serious wound or infection when sensation or blood flow is impaired.
If you have diabetes, avoid attempting to cut deeply into an ingrown nail yourself. Our Albuquerque diabetic foot care specialists can evaluate nail problems and help prevent minor injuries from developing into more serious complications.
When to See a Podiatrist for an Ingrown Toenail
You should schedule a podiatric evaluation if an ingrown toenail causes persistent pain, redness or swelling; produces drainage or other signs of infection; repeatedly grows back; or makes it uncomfortable to wear shoes or walk. Professional treatment can relieve the pressure caused by the nail and address infection or recurrence before the condition becomes more difficult to manage. The practice specifically recommends professional care when an ingrown toenail is painful, red, swollen, draining, recurring, or occurs in someone with diabetes or poor circulation. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
People with diabetes or circulation problems should seek care promptly rather than attempting aggressive home treatment. Even a small nail-related wound can present a greater risk when healing or sensation is impaired.
Our Albuquerque skin and toenail specialists can determine whether conservative treatment, partial nail removal, or a procedure designed to reduce recurrence is appropriate.
Our Approach to Ingrown Toenail Care
Dr. Nathan Ivey and the team at New Mexico Foot & Ankle Institute provide professional treatment for painful and recurring ingrown toenails at our Northeast Heights Albuquerque office. Treatment is individualized according to the condition of the nail, the presence of infection, your medical history, and whether the problem has occurred before.
