Ingrown Toenail Q & A

If you have an ingrown toenail that causes pain for more than a couple days, do not hesitate to reach out to our medical team at Fair Oaks Podiatry and Sports Medicine by dialing (703) 865-6783. We will determine if your ingrown toenail is infected. Furthermore, those who have an underlying medical condition, poor circulation or foot nerve damage are advised to reach out to our medical specialists immediately after finding they have an ingrown toenail. There are several ways to treat ingrown toenails. Some patients benefit from the application of an antibiotic ointment to the ingrown toenail. Others find the pain is lessened with the use of comfortable socks and sneakers. If necessary, a pain reliever will mitigate the pain and swelling. Some patients with ingrown toenails benefit from toe braces, toe protectors and even oral antibiotics. Our medical specialists are here to determine if you can benefit from such antibiotics.

Antibiotics are especially helpful for those who have an ingrown toenail that is infected and also suffer from a weakened immune system. Examples of antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of infected ingrown toenails include vancomycin, amoxicillin and ampicillin. If absolutely necessary, our medical team will remove the ingrown toenail. However, we will exhaust all possible treatment modalities within reason prior to removing part of the ingrown toenail’s border and proceeding to the underlying nail bed. This procedure is performed with the use of a local anesthetic to ensure you feel as little discomfort as possible.