An ingrown nail is usually considered a pesky distraction that mostly goes away with time. But, not all ingrown nails are as harmless. Some of them require daily at-home remedies and some of them can even require surgical intervention. Is an ingrown toenail bad enough to justify a visit to the foot specialists in Racine WI, or is it still treatable at-home?
What an Ingrown Nail is Doing
An ingrown nail is growing underneath the skin in the wrong direction, essentially. It is not growing straight out and is cutting up alongside and underneath the surface of the skin. An ingrown toenail can easily turn into an infection. This is because the nail itself is creating a small pocket. Due to its location, dirt and foreign bodies easily get into the pocket and fester an infection.
Quick and Easy Test
The problem here is that everything is happening under the skin and out of sight (for the time being). It can be hard to determine the extent of the infection or if there is even one present at all. What is a quick test? If there is active pain coming from the toenail without it being touched, there is an infection underneath that is winning the battle. Usually, a simple ingrown nail will only hurt if pressure is applied. If it aches normally, it’s more than a little problematic.
Onset Infection and a Specialist
It is worth saying that ingrown nail could best be handled by the Foot Specialists in Racine WI. It is the best way to go about it even if it is an inconvenience in the short-term or if there is a co-pay. At-home remedies can add up. If it isn’t getting any better right away, take it to the doctor. There is no harm.
There is also a very fair opportunity to get advice on how to present the situation in the future. Often times, one ingrown nail is a sign of more to come, as it usually occurs from bad shoes, posture, or a genetic disposition. Schedule an appointment today to get the problem handled now before it becomes something a lot worse.
