Posts for tag: ingrown toenails
Some of the most common conditions I see everyday are nail problems. Toenails grow differently than fingernails and can grow into the folds of the nail bed, consequently, an ingrown nail results. Most people try to relieve this condition by cutting deep into the corners, which can actually make this worse or encourage the ingrown to form. Occasionally, the nail pierces the fold and an infection develops, like the photo seen here. Your podiatrist can offer several treatment options that can relieve this condition as well as treat any infection caused by at an ingrown nail.
Another condition is nail fungus, or onychomycosis. Fungal nails are often discolored, thickened and difficult to cut. However, not all nails that fit this description are fungal nails. There are a several other things that can alter the appearance of a nail. One of those is nail trauma. This can be a one-time incident (i.e. you accidentally dropped a soup can on your toe or jammed it on furniture) or from repetitive microtrauma that you didn't even know occurred. Other causes of nail changes can include nutritional deficiencies, psoriasis and genetic disease. A nail biopsy is one way your podiatrist can diagnose the nail condition and recommend a proper treatment. There are several treatments for fungal nails so be sure to ask what's the best one for you.
Did you ever have a nail turn black or purple and then lift from or fall off the nail bed? A condition called subungual hematoma can occur to one or more toenails at a time. This can be a painful or painless condition and it can occur over a short time. It forms when a blood vessel under the nail is broken, usually from acute trauma or constant pressure. In turn, the bleeding fills the nail bed and discolors the nail. It may cause pain because of pressure under the nail. This is a very treatable condition that your podiatrist is more than happy to take care of.
