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Ingrown Toenails Specialist

South Denver Podiatry

Podiatrists located in Littleton, CO

Ignoring an ingrown toenail is only going to lead to more pain and discomfort, or possibly a serious infection. Littleton, Colorado’s leading board-certified podiatrist Karolina Varnay, DPM, offers flexible scheduling for ingrown toenail treatments. Schedule your exam at South Denver Podiatry and get relief from ingrown toenail pain right away. You can either request an appointment online or call the clinic.

Ingrown Toenails Q & A

What causes an ingrown toenail?

Your toenails serve as protective barriers for the sensitive tissues covering the tips of your toe bones. While your toenails are supposed to grow straight out and not cause any discomfort, in some cases, they can start growing into the skin surrounding the nail bed. This is known as an ingrown toenail.

Some men and women develop ingrown toenails frequently because they have unusually curved nails, especially in the big toe. Other common causes of ingrown toenails include:

  • Trimming toenails too short
  • Rounding out toenail edges
  • Wearing shoes with little toe room
  • Injuring your toe

Whether an ingrown toenail is a new issue for you, or if you seem to get them regularly, you need to get proper treatment. Ignoring an ingrown toenail or trying to treat it yourself can lead to an infection. And because blood flow is so limited in your toes already — they’re far from your heart — infections can quickly become serious as wounds take longer to heal in your feet.

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

Treating an ingrown toenail involves two steps: Removing the ingrown part of your nail and treating any lingering infection. For minor ingrown toenails, Dr. Varnay may place a temporary splint underneath your nail to encourage it to grow outwards.

If your nail is severely ingrown, Dr. Varnay might need to numb your toe and remove the ingrown part of your nail. She can treat your nail bed with topical antibiotic medication, or if needed, prescribe oral antibiotics.

While less common, sometimes a severe infection or chronic case of ingrown toenail means you might need to have your toenail removed. Dr. Varnay may even suggest treating the tissue underneath your nail with a chemical solution to prevent nail regrowth — this is sometimes suggested for partial removals, too.

How do I prevent ingrown toenails?

In many cases, you can prevent ingrown toenails. Once Dr. Varnay treats your current ingrown toenail, she can teach you different lifestyle changes and foot care techniques you can try to minimize your risk of future nail issues.

For instance, swapping to shoes with a box-shaped or squared toe can ensure your toes have plenty of wiggle room, so your nails don’t start becoming ingrown. It’s also important to:

  • Avoid ripping or tearing your nails
  • Cut your nails straight across
  • Avoid rounding out the corners of your nails


The dedicated team at South Denver Podiatry spend time teaching you how to care for your toenails, so you (hopefully) won’t ever have to deal with ingrown toenail pain again.

Schedule your ingrown toenail treatment at South Denver Podiatry today. Click on the online scheduling feature to book or call the office directly.