An ingrown toenail is a painful condition that can get worse the longer it is left untreated. The wound is torn through the surrounding skin of the toenail. Without care for a certain amount of time can cause the condition to become infected.
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that occurs on the skin of the body. Cellulitis infections cause swelling and redness, making it painful with the slightest touch. One notable characteristic of cellulitis is that it affects areas below the hip, towards the lower part of the leg. However, it can still affect areas above the hip as well.
Ingrown nails can lead to cellulitis by advanced conditions where the nail has deeply penetrated the skin surrounding the nail. Commonly, the infection will affect the area beside the ingrown nail. This causes the entire foot to be red and painful. It is very important to seek medical attention once you notice even the slightest sign of infection as cellulitis can spread to the rest of the body and cause your organs to fail. A medical specialist would likely prescribe an antibiotic to fight the infection and cause the inflammation to go down while treating the ingrown toenail infection.
If you have an ingrown nail, don’t let it get worse. Schedule a Free Consultation with one of our Podiatrists here.