California Foot and Ankle Center

Ingrown and Fungal Nails

Ingrown Toenails are Painful, but luckily, they are also swiftly treatable at the California Foot and Ankle Center.

Toenails are often an indicator of a person’s overall-health. Your toenails provide key information leading to the diagnosis of certain diseases and illnesses. For example, the thick or flaking toenails can be a sign of fungal infections. Diabetes causes a number of toenail problems because of nerve damage, poor blood-flow and circulation, and susceptibility to fungal infections because of a diabetic person’s high blood-glucose levels. The many conditions associated with diabetic foot care, ranging from mild to severe, is why it’s essential to get a professional podiatrist involved. Even if it seems like your ingrown toenail is something benign that can be handled at home, it’s much safer to consult your local podiatrist.

Should you worry about yellowing toenails?

Aside from the growth and thickness of your toenails, the color can also signify health conditions or foreshadow an illness. Yellow toenails don’t just look unsightly, they can mean a variety of concerning issues. If your toenails are yellowing, it’s essential to make an appointment with a podiatrist. Yellow toenails can be a sign of lymphatic problems, psoriasis, fungal infections, and poor blood circulation, which can imply heart and lung issues. Rather than ignoring the issue, using store-bought creams or covering them with polish, take yellowing toenails seriously because you could prevent worsening of serious diseases by investigating this sign of potentially-serious health problems.

What does a healthy toenail look like?

A healthy toenail should be pinkish, smooth, and consistent in both texture and color, from the nailbed to tip. Dark or blackened toenails are an obvious cause for concern, but surprisingly, blackened or dark toenails are not usually indication of a serious disease- usually, it means there is bruising underneath the nail-bed. This is likely caused by outer trauma such as dropping a heavy object on your foot. Regardless, given how painful and the length of time it may take for nails to return to normal, you should still consult your podiatrist.
 
How is an ingrown toenail treated?

An ingrown toenail is characterized by the growth of the toenail digging into the surrounding the skin. This improper growth is incredibly painful and can lead to inflammation and infection. Oral and topical medications may be required to treat ingrown toenails that become infected. You can do your best to prevent this condition by wearing properly-fitting shoes and regularly trimming your toenails. At California Foot and Ankle Center, your podiatrist helps you devise a plan to help you treat and prevent this painful condition.