Ingrown toenails are troublesome and painful. Treatment is very effective, but sometimes an ingrown toenail can return after treatment. It’s important to know how to prevent this from happening. Your podiatrist has the answers you need. Dr. Charlotte Reisinger and Dr. Dusky Farmer at Reisinger Farmer Podiatry in Evansville, IN, provide a full range of foot and ankle services, including treatment of ingrown toenails.

What You Need To Know About Ingrown Toenails

You are at increased risk of an ingrown toenail returning if:

• You have toenails which curve under naturally
• You have a family history of ingrown toenails
• You are still practicing habits which can lead to an ingrown toenail

This last point is important, because there are several steps you need to take to avoid the recurrence of ingrown toenails. Remember that ingrown toenails can be caused by:

• Cutting your toenails too short, so don’t cut your toenails down too far
• Rounding the corners of your toenails, so always cut your toenails straight across
• Wearing shoes which are narrow and pointed, crushing toes together, so always wear shoes with a wide toe box

You should visit a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail that has returned after treatment. Your podiatrist will recommend a repeat treatment or an alternative treatment to heal your ingrown toenail. Your podiatrist may recommend:

• Trimming off the section of your toenail that has grown into the skin
• Lifting and separating the toenail from the surrounding skin
• Removing the entire toenail so a new, healthy toenail can grow
• Laser treatment to resolve the ingrown toenail and kill bacteria if the area is infected

Want To Know More About Ingrown Toenails?

To learn more about ingrown toenails and how to prevent them from returning after treatment, call Dr. Charlotte Reisinger and Dr. Dusky Farmer at Reisinger Farmer Podiatry in Evansville, IN. You can reach them in the office by calling (812) 421-8555, so call today.