Dr. Ari Rubinstein, and his team, are leading podiatrists in White Plains, NY. We treat ingrown nails, toe and nail injury, and we treat fungus. Dr. Ari Rubinstein understands that while a toenail injury or infection can seem insignificant, it can cause a great deal of pain and adversely affect your daily life. If left untreated these problems may progress to more complicated toe and nail problems. Our team at Lower Westchester Foot & Ankle will assess your individual case and recommend the best treatment for quick healing and restoring comfort to your active lifestyle. If you have been experiencing pain and discomfort due to a toe or nail problem, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ari Rubinstein and his team. They will assess your condition and suggest options for injury, ingrown toenail, or fungal treatment and prevention.
Toenails Q & A
What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
Common causes for ingrown toenail include:
- Shoes that crowd toenails
- Cutting toenails too short
- Having unusually curved toenails
- An injury to the toenail
What Complications Can Occur if Left Untreated?
Left undetected or untreated, an ingrown toenail can sometimes infect the underlying bone which may lead to a serious bone infection.
If a patient has diabetes, an ingrown toenail that is left untreated can lead to severe complications such as poor blood flow and nerve damage in the foot. Foot ulcers sometimes occur which can lead to decay and gangrene (death of tissue). Though easily treated, to a diabetic, an ingrown toenail is a very serious matter.
Do Ingrown Toenails Require a Doctor’s Care?
This is a common condition where the side or corner of a toenail grows into the soft flesh beside it. The result is redness, swelling, pain, and at times, infection. These usually affect the big toe.
Though a person can often take care of an ingrown toenail on their own, if the pain is spreading or growing in severity, a doctor is often needed to relieve the pain and avoid any possible complications. Dr. Rubinstein is able to treat ingrown toenails during the initial visit, helping his patients return to pain-free activity.
Anyone who has diabetes or some other condition that causes poor blood flow to their feet is at greater risk for complications from ingrown toenails. Patients who have diabetes should always have any problems with their feet checked by their doctor without delay.
How Does a Doctor Treat an Ingrown Toenail?
Topical or oral antibiotics may be recommended, especially if the toe is infected or at risk of becoming infected along with one or more of the following.
- Lifting the nail – Used for a slightly ingrown nail (redness and pain but no infection). The doctor carefully lifts the ingrowing nail edge and places cotton or a splint under it.
- Partially removing the nail- Called for with a more severe ingrown toenail. The doctor trims or removes the ingrown portion of the nail.
- Removing the nail – Done when there is a repeated problem on the same toe.
Don’t wait until your ingrown toenail starts infecting your very bones. Call or book now at Lower Westchester Foot & Ankle.
NAIL INJURY, NAIL TRAUMA
Toe and nail injuries are common and painful. These injuries can happen to anyone, but certainly more often in active runners and sports enthusiasts and those who enjoy shoes that don’t quite fit. While many injuries may heal on their own, the risk of significant infection and other problems is not worth it. Dr. Ari Rubinstein, and his team are leading podiatrists in White Plains, NY. We treat toe and nail injuries. We take toenail injury seriously.
If your toe is swollen or red, or if the nail is black or filled with blood or pus, please call or book online.
Nail Injury Q&A
What is dangerous about a simple nail injury?
Consider the distance between the nail to the bone. It’s not far, in fact, it is just a few millimeters. So, when a nail is ripped or torn, or a toe jammed, the possibility of the skin beneath the nail (nailbed) being torn is high. When this border (nailbed) is open, it provides a direct path to the bone underneath – exposing you to a far worse outcome — bone infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of injury?
If your toe is swollen or red, or if the nail is black or filled with blood or pus, or if touching or motion creates pain it should be evaluated. An X-ray should be taken, the toe should be treated.
Is treatment painful?
In most cases no. But, if your injury requires it, local anesthesia is provided.
What type of treatment are we talking about?
Sometimes we offer antibiotics and foot soaks. Other times, the nail or nail bed needs to be repaired. Very often there is also a broken toe bone and the fracture will be treated as well.
NAIL FUNGUS
Toenail fungus presents a major problem for both patients and podiatry. It can infect anyone, may or may not be contagious, and creates discolored and thickened nails. These nails become embarrassing in public, let alone painful from disfigurement and contact in shoes and socks. At Lower Westchester Foot & Ankle, Dr. Ari Rubinstein and his team take fungal nails seriously. We offer treatment as individual or combination protocols tailored to patient-specific symptoms, the severity of infection, and disfigurement.
We have learned that combination treatment of medication and external stimulation offer the best and longest lasting results and the greatest chance of preventing reinfection and proliferation of fungus in the nail.
Nail Fungus Q&A
Can I spread this to others in my household?
The short answer is yes, but it’s not so simple. It appears that nail fungus affects persons who are susceptible (likely genetic, though this has not been sufficiently studied.) Readily available evidence of genetic susceptibility includes prevalence as high as 30% in China vs 14% in the US and 20% in Europe. Interestingly this contrasts with the reality that married couples do not necessarily share the infection.
Is there a home remedy?
Many individuals and companies market concoctions sold over the counter (and internet) for treatment, but sadly NO. Few, if any, can properly substantiate results. The only thing effective is the marketing of the concoction. The use of non-prescription topicals have no efficacious results. The use of devices including home foot and shoe UV lights & lasers is not recommended. They only accomplish delaying proper treatment and prolonged suffering.
Can’t I just have the nail removed?
While this does “remove the disfigured and discolored nail”, it does not treat the underlying infection which lives in the nail bed and the toe’s soft tissues. When the nail grows back, so will the fungus.
How long does treatment take?
Regardless of the type of treatment, clear nail must grow out. So, treatment takes as long as it takes for the nail to grow. Approximately 1mm each month, which varies per patient. Most results take 6 months to be noticeable, and roughly a year for the whole nail.
Is treatment Painful?
Our treatment protocol is pain-free and includes office procedure time as well as home medicine.
How do I get started?
Schedule a consultation call office now.
