What happens when you trim your toenails too short? Well, you are setting the stage for ingrown toenails! This damage to the nails may also lead to toenail fungus infections. Sometimes when we’re trimming our toenails we tend to taper the corners so that the nail matches the curve and shape of your toe. But this technique may encourage your nail to grow into the sides and skin of your toe. What happens then is that the nail can curl down and dig into the toe. Also, if you are shoving your feet into shoes that are either too tight or too short, that’s another sure-fire way of getting an ingrown toenail.

Having an ingrown nail may make your toe hard, tender, inflamed, and tender. If left untreated it may become infected causing severe pain. You can get an ingrown nail on any toe but it is the most common on our big toes due to experiencing more trauma and stress than our other nails.

Ingrown toenails are not always easy to notice. In fact, you may not always feel pain or see swelling or redness of any sort in some cases. It is important that if you see the nail beginning to fold under your skin to realize that this could be a sign of an ingrown nail.

Some individuals, such as diabetics or individuals, who have a condition that restricts the blood flow to the feet, are at a greater risk of obtaining an ingrown toenail.

In most cases, you can treat the ingrown toenails yourself, however, if the case seems to be extreme or very sensitive and there is significant pain or discomfort, it is best to contact a doctor or specialist in order to avoid potential complications and to provide information on how to alleviate pain.

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes one treatment.

Our toenail doctor in San Diego, CA recommends this treatment. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, it is not painful.

If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 160 locations.