Chance Warmack of the Tennessee Titans and his big toes are feeling better prepared for their next game since having an ingrown toenail removed. During a preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, Warmack played through the pain and immediately went to see the doctor the next day to remedy the situation. The doctor removed the ingrown nail from both big toes with Warmack describing it as “toe meat.” Since then the guard has started to take better care of his feet and toenails stating, “I just have to soak it and take care of it... When I am not practicing it hurts.”

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. To learn more, consult with Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor will provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg and Mcconnellsburg, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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