Nail conditions like an ingrown toenail and nail fungus can cause problems that go beyond the nail itself. Nail discoloration, warping, breakage, pain, and other symptoms can mean it’s hard to wear shoes, expose your feet, or even walk normally. Fortunately, Valley Foot & Ankle in Renton, Washington, offers many advanced treatments to get your nails healthy and normal again. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infection affecting the nail plate. It often affects one nail, but can sometimes happen on all of your toenails. A nail fungus causes symptoms like:
Nail fungus is caused by fungus, bacteria, or both. When a nail fungus has both fungal and bacterial components, it's called infectious onychodystrophy.
Most sufferers get nail fungus in damp environments, like walking shoeless in a public swimming pool or locker room. You can also get nail fungus from repeated nail trauma.
An ingrown toenail, or onychocryptosis, is a toenail that grows into the skin bordering it. This causes swelling and inflammation, and often leads to infection.
With an infection, you can develop a smelly yellow, white, or bloody discharge from the nail bed. Ingrown toenails can be very painful.
Ingrown toenail causes commonly include abnormally curved nails, irritation from shoes, foot trauma, and nail overtrimming.
Valley Foot & Ankle offers comprehensive nail treatments, personalized for you. Treatment depends on your condition.
Nail fungus treatment typically includes topical or oral antifungal or antibiotic medication, based on the kind of infection.
It's quite rare to need nail removal, but the Valley Foot & Ankle specialists can perform the procedure comfortably in the office when necessary. Proper foot hygiene, including regular antibacterial spray use, can control infection spread.
Nail avulsion is the most common ingrown toenail treatment. In this simple procedure, the Valley Foot & Ankle team removes either a portion of the nail or the entire nail.
If you have recurring ingrown toenails, you may also need a matrixectomy, a procedure in which your specialist uses a powerful acid to permanently damage the nail matrix and prevent regrowth.
After your nail avulsion with or without matrixectomy, you typically get a compressive dressing. After that, soak your toe daily and use a topical ointment as directed. If you have a bacterial infection, you may also take oral antibiotics.
Valley Foot & Ankle treats all nail conditions affecting the feet, so reach out by phone or book an appointment online today.
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