Have you ever experienced a sharp, throbbing pain in your toes while walking? This is the result of having an ingrown toenail. If you ignore this condition, thinking it is trivial and needs no medical attention, the consequences will be hard. The stabbing pain can be too much to bear after a time.
In a city like Singapore, people are always on the move, and coping with an ingrown toenail can affect your mobility adversely. You will need to find a trusted and veteran podiatrist to get rid of this hassle.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a nail grows back into the skin around it. In most cases, this affects the big toe. As it keeps growing inward, the skin becomes redder, with swelling and pain. In Singapore’s humid climate, the risk grows manifold if you wear tight shoes or need to walk long distances. The reasons for an ingrown toenail are:
- Not cutting the nails in the right way.
- Wearing tight-fitting shoes most of the time.
- Toe injuries alter the nail growth pattern.
- Fungal infections distort the nail, causing it to grow backward.
In the early stage, people try home remedies like soaking their feet in warm salt water, applying antiseptic ointments, wearing soft shoes, etc. However, this may not bring results in some cases, and visiting an expert podiatrist is the only way out. To find capable and trusted podiatrists to treat this condition, you can check out https://feetfirstpodiatry.com.sg/ingrown-toenail-removal-surgery-treatment/.
How do top podiatrists treat ingrown toenails?
In Singapore, veteran podiatrists resort to both non-invasive and surgical processes to give relief to people coping with ingrown toenails.
Non-surgical procedures
They offer nail packaging to promote straight nail growth. It is painless and can be effective in mild cases.
- Nail bracing is applied to rectify the mail shape slowly. This helps in handling cases of recurring ingrown toenails.
- Antifungal laser therapy is used to treat cases where the fungal infection causes the toenail to grow adversely.
Surgical procedure
In some cases, podiatrists have no other option than to use surgical processes to eliminate ingrown toenails. It is a minor surgery that takes less than an hour and has minimal risk of side effects.
- The podiatrist applies a topical gel along with a local anesthetic injection.
- The affected portion of the nail is cut and removed carefully.
- They apply a chemical solution to prevent recurrence.
- The toe dressing is done.
- It may need 2-3 checkups later.
The recovery takes 2- 3 weeks, and you have to practice caution when taking baths and wearing soft footwear that does not cover the toe. Top Podiatric clinics in Singapore offer detailed aftercare instructions.
Summing it up
An ingrown toenail seems like a minor annoyance but grows into a bigger problem if you overlook it. So, do not delay when you spot the symptoms and get in touch with a trusted podiatrist. For the best experience, take some time to assess the credibility and expertise of such professionals. Checking their clinic websites and social media handles will offer you a good idea.
