Ingrown toenails are painful conditions that can seriously affect quality of life. If you have an ingrown toenail, you should be seen by a podiatrist immediately to treat the condition before it gets worse. Untreated ingrown toenails can cause complications that may be more serious than if the condition was treated earlier. By seeking early removal of the ingrown toenail, you can avoid more problems down the road.
Complications from ingrown toenails are more common when another condition is also present, like diabetes. Because diabetes affects the amount of blood that flows to the feet, any minor cut, scrape, or injury to the foot is more severe than for others. In the case of an ingrown, the severity of ingrown toenails increases when patients are diabetic. Diabetes both increases the risk of the ingrown toenail becoming infected, and increases the risk that the infection is severe. Ingrown toenails in diabetic patients can require surgery to prevent decay of the tissue and gangrene.
Complications can also arise from ingrown toenails that become infected. Once an infection forms for any patient, the severity of an ingrown toenail increases. If an infection is left untreated, it can eventually infect the bone under it, which is a very serious problem.
The best way to prevent complications from ingrown toenails is to be aware of their symptoms and be aware of their potential to form. If you are able to identify an ingrown before it becomes infected or develops into something more severe, you should be able to avoid major problems from it. A podiatrist will be able to diagnose your ingrown and provide you with effective care for it. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.