Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are quite common in all age groups. Patients often live with them needlessly for months or years. The improper trimming of the nails, tight shoes, or injury to the nail can cause ingrown toenails. Often they seem to occur for no reason at all. If they become infected, you should soak them in warm water and Epsom salts, apply an antibiotic ointment and make an appointment to have them treated. Treatment is virtually painless. Following the procedure there is little to no pain and no limitation of your activities once the anesthesia has worn off.

Fungal toenails are toenails that have become infected with one of a group of microorganisms we call fungus. In many instances it is the same organism that causes athlete's foot. As the fungus invades the nail and the nail bed, it may go unnoticed for a period of time because it is rarely painful. It usually appears at the nail edge and works its way under the nail, progressing back to the root of the toenail. Once it invades the root, or matrix, it begins to distort the way the nail grows and becomes more difficult to treat.

In early stages, clipping the diseased portion of the nail away and applying an antifungal cream after drying the toe can treat the problem. In later stages of the disease, oral medications may be useful with or without nail removal.

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