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The FootWorks Store, Columbus, Ohio

Providing the highest quality products, service, and knowledge for our customers' specific foot needs.

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Ingrown Toe Nails

Definition

Known to physicians as onychocryptosis, ingrown toe nails are a common, painful condition that occurs when skin on one or both sides of a nail grows over the edges of the nail, or when the nail itself grows into the skin. This condition is usually very painful and can be associated with infection of the toe. Some ingrown toenails are chronic, with repeated episodes of pain and infection. Irritation, redness, uncomfortable sensation of warmth, as well as swelling can result from an ingrown toenail.

Cause

Ingrown toenails can develop for many reasons. In some cases the condition is congenital, such as toenails that simply are too large. Persons whose toes curl, either congenitally or from diseases like arthritis, are prone to ingrown toenails. Often, trauma, like stubbing a toe or having a toe stepped on, can cause a piece of the nail to be jammed into the skin. Repeated trauma, such as the pounding to which runners typically subject their feet, also can cause ingrown nails.

The most common cause is cutting your toenails incorrectly, causing them to re-grow into the skin. Tight hosiery or shoes with narrow toe boxes can only make matters worse. If the skin is red, painful or swollen on the sides of the nail, an infection may be present. This occurs because the ingrown nail is often in a warm, moist and bacteria-rich environment. When the nail penetrates the skin, it provides a convenient entry for germs that can cause infection. Untreated, the nail can go under the skin, causing a more severe infection. In either case, the infection needs to be cured with sterile instruments and antibiotics.

Treatment and Prevention

Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as it is recognized. In many cases, people with uninfected ingrown toenails can obtain relief with the following simple regimen:

  • Soak the feet in warm salt water
  • Dry them thoroughly with a clean towel
  • Apply a mild antiseptic solution to the area
  • Bandage the toe

If excessive inflammation, swelling, pain or discharge is present, the toenail probably is infected and should be treated by a physician. A podiatrist can trim or remove the infected nail with a minor in-office surgical procedure. He or she can remove the offending portion of the nail or overgrown skin with a scalpel and treat the infection. Unless, the problem is congenital, the best way to prevent ingrown toenails is to protect the feet from trauma and wear shoes with adequate room for the toes.

Cuting toe nails properly goes a long way toward the prevention of ingrown toenails. Using a safety nail clipper, cut the nails straight across, so that the nail corner is visible. If you cut the nail too short, you are inviting the nail corner to grow into the skin. It is the natural tendency, when the edge of the nail starts to grow in, to cut down at an angle at the nail edge, to relieve the pain. This does relieve the pain temporarily, but it also can start a downward spiral, training the nail to become more and more ingrown.

Back to List of Foot Conditions

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Product Information

 Our store specializes in sizing and fitting shoes to your feet. We carry a large number of brands of comfort shoes, in all of those hard to fit sizes.

New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Finn Comfort and Naot are JUST A FEW Name brands that we carry. The FootWorks Store also carries new lines of shoes from Drew shoes and Orthofeet. These shoes address diabetic, arthritic and hard to fit feet.

Customer Satisfaction Policies

We are here to help! We will stand behind our products and services. If there ever is any issue with our products or service, we will do our best to fix it and make it right!

Appointments Preferred

Appointments are strongly preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

Local: 614-367-1510
Toll-Free: 1-800-515-1640

Our Location

1302 Hill Road North
Pickerington, Ohio 43147

Directions:
We are conveniently located on State Route 256 (Hill Road) in Pickerington, OH, 1 mile south of Interstate 70 on the East side of the street. Turn left at the 5th stop light from I-70, across from Huntington Bank and Kohls.

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HOURS:

Appointments Strongly Preferred
Walk-ins Welcome

Monday - Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday Closed

Directions

 

LOCATION:

The FootWorks Store Inc.
1302 Hill Rd. N
Pickerington, OH 43147-8986
Toll Free: 1-800-515-1640
Phone: 614-367-1510
Fax: 614-367-1246
info@thefootworksstore.com

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