Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Farmington, NM

What Are Ingrown Toenails?

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge or corner of a toenail grows into the soft skin surrounding the nail bed, causing pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes infection. The condition most commonly affects the big toe and is one of the most frequently treated problems in podiatric medicine. While an ingrown toenail may seem minor at first, without proper treatment it can progress to a painful infection that makes walking and wearing shoes difficult.

Ingrown toenails can affect anyone, but they are especially common among teenagers and young adults, people who wear tight or narrow shoes, athletes whose feet experience repeated pressure or trauma, and individuals with diabetes or poor circulation who are more vulnerable to complications from even minor foot problems.

Causes and Risk Factors

The most common cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail trimming — cutting nails too short or rounding the edges encourages the nail to grow into the skin. Other contributing factors include wearing shoes that crowd the toes, sustaining a toe injury (stubbing, dropping something on the foot, or repetitive impact from running), having naturally curved or thick nails, and genetic predisposition. Sweating, fungal infections, and poor foot hygiene can also create conditions that promote ingrown nails.

Symptoms to Watch For

Early signs include tenderness, slight swelling, and redness along one or both sides of the toenail. As the condition progresses, the pain intensifies and the skin may become hard, swollen, or warm to the touch. In more advanced cases, the area may drain pus or clear fluid, indicating infection. Patients with diabetes or circulatory disorders should seek professional care at the first sign of an ingrown toenail, as delayed treatment increases the risk of serious infection.

How Dr. Dorner Treats Ingrown Toenails

Dr. Denise M. Dorner evaluates the severity of each ingrown toenail and recommends the most appropriate treatment approach. For mild cases, conservative care may include proper soaking techniques, gentle nail border lifting, cotton or splint placement to redirect nail growth, and guidance on correct trimming methods to prevent recurrence.

For moderate to severe ingrown toenails — particularly those that are infected or recurring — Dr. Dorner performs an in-office partial nail avulsion. This quick procedure involves numbing the toe with a local anesthetic and carefully removing the offending portion of the nail. For patients with chronic or repeatedly recurring ingrown nails, she may recommend a permanent correction procedure that treats the nail matrix to prevent the problematic section from regrowing.

Recovery from ingrown toenail procedures is typically straightforward. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two and experience immediate pain relief. Dr. Dorner provides detailed aftercare instructions and schedules follow-up visits to ensure proper healing.