Our Pueblo, CO Podiatrists Can Help You With Toenail & Skin Problems
Ingrown Toenails
We have all made the painful mistake of trimming our nails too short at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this can really affect our foot health by causing ingrown toenails.
This happens when the nail grows downward into the skin instead of straight out, usually causing an infection. Ingrown toenails are most common on the sides of the big toe. It can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungal infections, poor foot structure, etc.
Warm water soaks several times a day, properly fitted shoes and socks, and trimming nails in a straight line (rather than rounded) are ways to treat and prevent painful ingrown toenails. If there is an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
If left untreated, the skin may begin to grow over the toenail,encapsulating the nail. Surgery is then required to remove the nail.
Fungal Nails
If you routinely find your toenails yellowed and deformed, fungi may be to blame. There is a type of fungus that thrives in dark, moist, and warm areas, much like your shoes, shower, locker room, etc. You may notice yellow and/or white spots on the nail, along with a thickness that develops over time. If one nail is infected and left untreated, it can easily spread to other nails.
Treatments include a laser cleaning of the nail(s), oral medications, and medicated or non medicated anti-fungal cream.
Fungal nail infections require a process of treatments along with a continual effort to prevent it from recurring. Keeping the infection under control can include thoroughly washing and drying feet, applying anti-fungal cream, not sharing nail clippers or shoes/socks, wearing dry cotton socks and changing them often, wearing dry shoes, and using shower sandals in wet, public places.