Ingrown toenails are a painful, yet common foot and ankle problem. Ingrown toenails are caused by multiple things including toenail fungus, hereditary shape of the nail, nail deformities, and trauma. When an ingrown toenail occurs, the nail grows downward into the skin instead of out to the surface that is trimmed. This causes the toenail to cut into the skin, which allows easier access for bacteria to enter the area and cause infection. Symptoms can include pain, redness, drainage, and swelling of the toe. The most common spot for ingrown toenails to occur is on both sides of the big toe.

When you visit the Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa, your doctor will initially perform a consultation. At this consultation, they will examine your foot and the ingrown nail. Your foot doctor may require x-rays depending on the level of infection. Following examination, your foot doctor will discuss different treatment options with you which may include antibiotic usage or a procedure to remove the ingrown nail. The procedures for ingrown toenails performed by the foot specialists at Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa have a very high success rate and help you to live pain free without having to worry about the nail growing in again.