An ingrown toenail is a potentially painful and unsightly condition that usually affects the big toe. This condition occurs when the side of the toenail grows into the skin, creating redness and swelling in the affected area. However, it is also possible for an ingrown toenail to develop on the pinky toe. This can be problematic for several reasons. Most notably, the pinky toe is the smallest of all the toes, which makes taking proper care of the pinky toenail difficult. Many individuals can not properly trim or cut this toenail due to its small size, which is a leading cause of ingrown toenails. For example, toenails that are cut too short or in a misshapen way can develop into ingrown toenails. A good way to prevent this from happening to your pinky toes is to cut the toenail straight across. This can prevent the nail from growing into the skin. Another helpful method of prevention is to wear shoes that do not crowd the toes and offer sufficiently large toe boxes. The pinky is certainly a small and often neglected part of the human body. However, having an ingrown toenail on your pinky toe is nothing to take lightly. Reach out to your local podiatrist to learn more about treating your ingrown toenail.
Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.
Causes
- Bacterial infections
- Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
- Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
- Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
- Genetic predisposition
Prevention
Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.
Treatment
Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Shepherdsville and Louisville, KY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
