7 Common Misconceptions About Ingrown Toenails

Dr. Brian Nagy | December 13th, 2017

Posted In: Ingrown Toenails

Your toenail should grow straight but sometimes there is a problem. An ingrown toenail occurs when your toenail grows into the side or corner of your nail bed. It’s a common problem and usually occurs in one of your big toes. The nail can dig deeply into your nail bed and cause irritation, redness, swelling, and pain.

Many people believe they know how to take care of an ingrown nail on their own, but there are some misconceptions about ingrown toenails that you should be aware of before you start to treat an ingrown nail at home.

False: Ingrown toenails always go away on their own.

The truth is that if you do not have an ingrown toenail properly taken care of, it can keep coming back. Furthermore, your foot pain could be due to something other than a bad toenail trim. See your podiatrist for a proper diagnosis. You can’t get the right treatment for your foot problem if you don’t know what you are dealing with.

False: Ingrown toenail treatment can always be performed at home.

While it is true there are several conservative treatment measures you can try at home, you should see your New Hampshire podiatrist if your ingrown toenail does not resolve after careful at-home treatment. It is a good idea to first make sure that your problem really is an ingrown toenail. Additionally, you should be mindful of the proper way to care for your mild ingrown nail problem by yourself and know when it’s time to seek medical help.

False: The shoes you wear have nothing to do with ingrown toenails.

It is unfortunate that so many people believe this myth. Wearing properly-fitting, appropriate, sensible footwear can mean the difference between a chronic recurring ingrown toenail and a healthy foot.

High-heeled shoes and shoes that are too tight, too loose, or simply ill-fitting can cause painful ingrown toenails. Ask your New Hampshire podiatrist what kind of shoes you should be wearing.

False: Cutting a notch or curve in the nail will make it grow correctly.

There is a proper way to cut your toenails whether you have an ingrown one or not. Always cut straight across the nail, do not cut the nail too short, and make sure your feet and your toenail clippers are clean before you trim.

False: Lifting an ingrown toenail with some dental floss at home will solve the problem.

Many people believe they can redirect the growth of the problem toenail by lifting it up with some dental floss but this can lead to an infection. An infected toenail is a bigger problem than an ingrown toenail, especially if left untreated. Your podiatrist is better equipped to lift, splint, or remove a problem toenail.

False: Treatment performed by your podiatrist for an ingrown nail will be complicated and painful.

Your podiatrist will properly diagnose your foot problem. If you have an ingrown toenail, he can often treat you with a 15-minute fix that will get rid of the current ingrown toenails and help prevent them from recurring.

False: Because your grandfather had ingrown toenails, you always will too.

This one is tricky because ingrown toenails do tend to run in families. So if your grandfather had ingrown toenails, you might be prone to getting them as well. However, these days, your experienced and qualified podiatrist knows how to fix ingrown toenails and will explain how you can prevent them from coming back. There are several things you can do to prevent this painful problem. Ask your podiatrist!

Seek Help From Your New Hampshire Podiatrist

Don’t fall for these common misconceptions about ingrown toenails. And if you are embarrassed to call your podiatrist about an ingrown toenail, you shouldn’t be. It is a common problem that the experienced doctors and staff at Nagy Footcare have been helping patients overcome for years.

At Nagy Footcare, we believe you shouldn’t suffer from the pain of ingrown toenails. We believe you deserve the proper diagnosis and treatment for any foot or toe pain you experience. If you think you might have an ingrown toenail, contact us today.

At Nagy Footcare, our best day is the day you wake up with no foot pain!