Ingrown Toenails: When to See a Podiatrist
If you have an ingrown toenail, you may be able to treat it yourself at home in certain circumstances. Typically, this problem happens when a piece of a nail starts to dig into the flesh on your toe. Instead of growing outwards as it should, the nail grows into your skin, potentially causing a lot of pain and discomfort. According to healthdirect, you may be able to fix the toenail and relieve its discomfort yourself by regularly soaking your foot in warm water and then trying to ease the affected skin away from the sharp part of the nail. Once you do this, you can then cut off the piece of nail that is troubling you.
However, there are times when you shouldn't try to deal with an ingrown toenail yourself and should get help from a podiatrist.
Existing Medical Conditions
According to healthdirect, a podiatrist or doctor should treat your ingrown toenail if you have diabetes or nerve or circulation disorders that might affect the blood flow in your feet. If you have one of these conditions and treat the toenail incorrectly or leave it too long without proper treatment, you may cause more damage.
According to Diabetes Australia, diabetes may make your feet more prone to circulation problems, infections and nerve damage. For example, if you cut the skin when you're trying to treat an ingrown toenail and your circulation is not so good, you may develop a nasty infection in your foot. The body recommends that you get immediate professional treatment for an ingrown toenail rather than trying to deal with it yourself.
Infected Ingrown Toenails
Dealing with an ingrown toenail that is a little red and sore may be OK; treating one that shows signs of infection is best left to a professional. If your toe is very inflamed, swollen or looks infected, you may make things worse if you dig around trying to free the nail. You may also need antibiotics or other treatments to clear the infection.
Recurring Ingrown Toenails
If your ingrown toenail keeps coming back, it's a good idea to see a podiatrist to get it sorted once and for all. As well as treating your toe, a podiatrist can also help you work out why the problem won't go away.
For example, ingrown toe nails are often caused by footwear that doesn't fit well or by cutting your toenails incorrectly. In these cases, your podiatrist can give you advice on more suitable shoes or on how to cut your nails to prevent them growing into your skin.
In some cases, your podiatrist may judge that the best cure for a persistent problem is to cut away the part of your nail that sticks into your skin. This procedure is typically done under a local anaesthetic and also involves treating the nail to stop the troublesome piece from growing back.