Ingrown toenails are usually painful, and a pain to both get rid of or leave untreated. When these already pesky ingrowns become infected, treatment becomes even more complicated. When an ingrown becomes infected, the skin around it becomes red and inflamed. Often, the sign that an ingrown has become infected comes in the form of pus leaking or forming under the skin. This is usually caused by a bacteria getting inside of the skin through the wound of the ingrown toenail.
Infected ingrown nails always require immediate medical attention. If the infection is allowed to continue untreated, it could facilitate a much more dangerous condition arising like sepsis. First, infected ingrown toenails need to be managed just like other ingrowns. This means wearing well-fitting shoes with wide toes, limiting physical activity, and soaking the nails regularly to keep the skin softened and moisturized. Ingrown toenail removal surgery can stop the actual ingrown from getting worse. Treating the infection itself requires an antibiotic course, either in the form of antibiotic creams or oral medication. These antibiotics are usually prescription, which is why it is important to see a licensed podiatrist to get your ingrown taken care of. An antibiotic treatment is usually necessary for infected ingrowns, as the infection might not go away on its own.
If you believe your ingrown toenail is infected, seek out a consultation with a licensed podiatrist immediately. During your consultation, a podiatrist will be able to diagnose your nail as an ingrown and determine if it is infected. From there, they will discuss your best options to remove the ingrown and address any infection. To schedule an appointment with a licensed podiatrist in your area, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.