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Dr. Jacoby describes an ingrown toenail and recalls the most common cause.
Dr. Jacoby:
Ingrown toenails – well when we talk about bacterial infections we are talking about ingrown toenails. So they are part and partially the same thing essentially but it’s a matter of degree.
An infection can occur without an ingrown toenail, but an ingrown toenail is really slicing into the skin causing a secondary bacterial infection. The nail needs to be removed – not the whole nail, but just the side of the nail. Initially it’s an incision and drainage, clean the side of the nail out, clean out the bacterial infection, clear out the debris that’s created from a trauma like that and sometimes you have to do a surgical correction, which requires anesthesia.
Trimming the toenail is probably one of the most common cause of ingrown toenail because a lot of people like to dig down on the side of the nail and they leave a spicule of offending nail that digs into the tissue, cuts the tissue, creates the portal of entry for bacteria to get it. So it’s not a good idea to cut the nails down on the side because eventually it’s going to cut, it’s going to eventually become ingrown and a secondary infection.
About Dr. Richard Jacoby, D.P.M.:
Dr. Richard Jacoby, D.P.M., graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his residency at Parkview Hospital, Philadelphia, specializing in foot and ankle surgery. Board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeons, he is currently president of Valley Foot Surgeons in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, Dr. Jacoby is chairman of the board of Healthcare Networks of America.
Dr. Jacoby has been named the 2010 President of The Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.
Visit Dr. Jacoby at Valley Foot Surgeons