An ingrown toenail isn't typically a cause for concern and will heal for many. However, this isn't the case for everybody. So, how do you know when your ingrown toenail warrants a visit with one of our podiatrists at Thurber & Thurber Podiatric Medicine & Foot Surgery, serving Horseheads, Waverly, Elmira, NY, and the neighboring communities? These are some warning signs that a visit is in order.

You're a Diabetic

As a diabetic, your body doesn't have the same ability as a person's body who is a non-diabetic to fight off an infection. Therefore, you want to try to prevent them whenever possible so you don't have to deal with the unwanted issues associated with a lingering infection.

Not to mention, if you're a diabetic, it's possible an issue to become serious. Any degree of nerve damage might be completely unknown to you until it becomes serious.

Moreover, a podiatrist from our office can educate you on how to properly cut your toenails and the right footwear to wear so you can avoid ingrown toenails in the future. 

You See Pus

Pus is a combination of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and other components that indicate an infection. If you have green or yellow pus, it usually means a more serious bacterial infection. 

Regardless of the color of the pus, you should seek treatment from a podiatrist in our office. 

You Have Redness or Swelling

If you notice redness or swelling around the ingrown toenail that isn't subsiding, you'll want to schedule a visit. As the toenail grows out, the swelling and redness around the site will stop. However, if it lingers, it could mean you have an infection.

This Is a Recurring Problem

Think about how many times you've had an ingrown toenail in the past. If it's happened more than a few times in the past, especially if it's been a frequent concern recently, you'll want to schedule a visit with a podiatrist serving Horseheads, Waverly, Elmira, NY, and the nearby regions to determine what's causing the problem. 

We may be able to help you reduce the prevalence of this issue by educating you on the proper footwear to wear and how to cut your toenails properly. 

If you have an ingrown toenail and are experiencing one of the aforementioned problems, we recommend scheduling a visit with Thurber & Thurber Podiatric Medicine & Foot Surgery, which serves Horseheads, Waverly, Elmira, NY, and the surrounding area. A podiatrist can help you treat or prevent infection.

Call (607) 739-8318 to reach the Horseheads, NY, office, (607) 565-8128 for Waverly, NY, and (607) 734-4582 for Elmira, NY.