Treating Your Ingrown Toenails

Treating Your Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common, painful condition in which the side of a nail grows into the flesh. Dr. Richard Lee and Dr. Steven Lin at ingrown toenailAlexandria Family Podiatry in Sterling and Alexandria, VA, offer state-of-the-art treatments for ingrown nails. Read on to find out how to treat your ingrown toenails.

1. Foot Soak

A homemade foot soak is often recommended as the first step for an infected toenail before prescription medication can be obtained. Soak your foot in a salt water foot bath for 15 minutes and cover the area with a bandage.​

2. Antibiotics

If you have an ingrown toenail, make an appointment with a Sterling or Alexandria podiatrist. If an infection is present, antibiotics may be prescribed. If your podiatrist has prescribed a course of antibiotics, be sure to take all of the medication, even if your symptoms have improved.

3. Lifting the Nail

For an ingrown nail, your foot doctor may carefully lift the nail edge and place a splint or cotton under it. This separates the toenail from the overlying skin and helps the toenail grow above the skin edge.

4. Surgery

Your podiatrist might suggest minor surgery to remove all or part of the ingrown toenail. After applying a local anesthetic, your foot doctor will remove part of the nail’s side border. Following the procedure, your foot doctor will cover the area with a bandage. Most patients experience very little discomfort after the procedure.

Say goodbye to that ingrown toenail for good! Call Alexandria Family Podiatry at (703) 823-2357 right now to schedule an appointment in Sterling or Alexandria, VA. Get your life back on track by receiving the best ingrown toenail treatment available.