Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
It is important to see a physician for ingrown
toenails that are very painful, infected, or not getting better after five to 10 days
of conservative home treatments. Signs of infection include enlarging areas of
redness or a red streak extending from the toe. Signs of cellulitis (tissue
infection) include swelling, marked redness, throbbing, and pain. Yellow or
green drainage from the wound is also a concern and may require drainage and
antibiotics. Diabetic patients or any patient with a compromised immune system
should immediately see a physician.
What kind of doctor treats ingrown toenails?
Many types of doctors can help
with ingrown toenails. Family physicians, pediatricians, urgent-care or walk-in
physicians, dermatologists, and podiatrists are among the medical professionals
who commonly treat this condition. Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in the
diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle disorders, including ingrown toenails.
Dermatologists specialize in the treatment of skin, hair, and nail disorders.
How are ingrown toenails treated?
Mild ingrown toenails may be treated with
conservative measures like warm daily soaks, avoidance of tight or ill-fitting
shoes, elevating the foot, topical antibiotics like Neosporin, and gently
pushing back the piece of overgrown skin away from the nail.
More advanced ingrown toenails may be treated with oral antibiotics.
Resistant or recurrent cases of ingrown toenails may require minor in-office
procedures by the physician. Surgical procedures aim to remove the embedded nail
away from the toe tissue. In some cases, the side 1/3 strip of nail is
surgically removed using local anesthesia (numbing). Surgical procedures often
require prolonged healing, local soaks, and wound care to prevent further
infections during the healing phase.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria (plantar warts and athlete's foot), or even ingrown toenails. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function. Minor foot pain can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation and OTC medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Severe pain should be treated by a medical professional.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of
arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout,
and pseudogout.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury. The depth and size of the wound incision and the location of the injury impact the scar's characteristics, but your age, heredity and even sex or ethnicity will affect how your skin reacts.
Diabetes-related foot problems can affect your health with two problems: diabetic neuropathy, where diabetes affects the nerves, and peripheral vascular disease, where diabetes affects the flow of blood. Common foot problems for people with diabetes include athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, foot ulcers, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
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