Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are painful and can lead to infection.  Dr. David Erman offers quick and effective treatments for Ingrown Toenails from his practice located in East Windsor, NJ.  You can call or request an appointment online today. 

Ingrown Toenail Q & A

Q:  What are ingrown toenails?

A:  An ingrown toenail is a common condition typically affecting the great toe, in which the corner or side of the nail becomes turned inward and grows into the skin and soft flesh of the toe. This results in irritation of the surrounding soft tissue, often causing pain, redness, swelling, warmth, and sometimes and infection. Dr. David Erman specializes in the treatment of recurring and severe ingrown toenails and also specializes in performing ingrown toenail surgery when necessary. All treatments are performed in the comfort of our East Windsor office.

Q:  What causes ingrown toenails?

A:  Common causes of ingrown toenails include the following:

  • Genetic inheritance for turned in toenails and/ or thickened soft tissue surrounding nail borders
  • Injury to your toenail
  • Improper trimming of your nails too short or not straight across
  • Wearing tight shoes and/or socks that crowd your toenails
  • Pathological nail conditions such as fungal infections

Q:  What complications can an ingrown toenail cause?

A:  Early and mild ingrown nails are slightly painful and red. More severe cases result in red, swollen nail borders, which may lead to the formation of a yellow or white discharge from the affected area. If left untreated or undetected, an ingrown toenail can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious and dangerous bone infection. 

Q:  What treatments are there for ingrown toenails?                         

A:  Home treatment is strongly discouraged if an infection is suspected, or if you suffer from medical conditions that put your feet at high risk, such as diabetes, nerve damage, or poor circulation. Make sure to visit Dr. Erman to ensure the right treatment is provided to you. 

When you visit Dr. Erman, he will first examine your toe and select the treatment best suited for you.

In order to relieve your pain, Dr. Erman will make your toe numb by using a cold spray or by giving an injection into the area.  He will then cut the toenail and remove the portion of the toenail which is growing into the skin.  This process will alleviate the pressure on the irritated skin around the toenail and make you feel better. Sometimes you may need topical or oral antibiotic medicine to help the area heal.   

If you have a chronic ingrown nail problem, Dr. Erman may recommend a procedure which would chemically cauterize the underlying nail root to prevent that portion of the nail from growing back.  Healing time may take up to three weeks, but most people experience very little pain after this procedure and may resume most normal activities the next day.

Location

Office Hours

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed