If you develop an ingrown toenail, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. This is especially true if you have diabetes or another chronic condition that negatively affects your circulation. At Sarasota Foot Care Center, with two convenient locations in Sarasota, Florida, the team provides same-day surgical care to eliminate ingrown toenails. To schedule an appointment today, call the office in Sarasota North or Gulf Gate Sarasota, or book a consultation online.
An ingrown toenail occurs when your nail grows into the soft, fleshy skin that surrounds the nail bed. This makes your toe red, sensitive, and swollen, and significantly increases your risk of infection.
Common symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
As your ingrown toenail gets worse, you might also experience pain or irritation on one or both sides of the nail.
At Sarasota Foot Care Center, your podiatrist diagnoses ingrown toenails by reviewing your medical history, asking about your symptoms and lifestyle, and physically examining your feet and toes.
Ingrown toenails are visible to the naked eye, so a quick in-office exam is usually enough to make a diagnosis.
At Sarasota Foot Care Center, the team treats every patient like family. They offer same-day, permanent surgical care to eliminate ingrown toenails. The type of surgery or treatment that’s right for you depends on the severity of your ingrown nail.
Your podiatrist might recommend:
If you have a mild ingrown toenail that’s slightly red, lifting the nail may provide relief. To lift the toenail, your provider separates the nail from your skin using a splint or a piece of dental floss. Ultimately, this allows your toenail to grow outward, above the skin.
If your ingrown toenail becomes infected, you might benefit from partial removal of the nail. Prior to partially removing your toenail, your provider administers a local anesthetic to prevent pain or discomfort. Once the anesthesia sets in, they carefully trim and remove the ingrown portion of your nail.
If you regularly experience ingrown toenails, and you have a chronic condition like diabetes, you might benefit from a complete nail removal. During this type of surgery, your provider removes the ingrown nail and nail bed. Afterward, they apply topical antibiotics to speed up your body’s recovery process.
Regardless of the treatment you undergo, the team at Sarasota Foot Care Center dispenses all the supplies needed to care for your toe after the procedure. This ensures you get back to a pain-free life as soon as possible.
There are several things you can do to lower your risk of an ingrown toenail, including:
If you work a physically demanding job in, for example, construction or a warehouse, you should also wear protective footwear like steel-toed boots. This can lower your risk of toenail injuries and related complications.
Don’t let an ingrown toenail negatively affect your quality of life. Schedule an appointment at Sarasota Foot Care Center today by calling or booking a consultation online.