Ingrown toenails can be a common problem. It is where the nail grows into the bed of your toe, most commonly your big toe. This can be painful and toes can get infected if they’re left untreated. If an infection is present the toe will become very tender and inflamed, it may produce blood, pus or discharge. Ingrown toenails tend to occur when a part of the nail pierces the skin at the side of the toe. There are many causes of ingrown toenails, cutting your toenails incorrectly may encourage the nail to grow inwards into the skin and conditions such as bunions can cause them. Also some people have naturally wider or curved toenails that can develop into ingrown toenails.
What can we do?
- We will always attempt to treat the nail conservatively by using fine instruments and expert skills to remove the slither of nail that is ingrown from the nail bed.
- If conservative treatment fails we can perform nail surgery. We always use a local anesthetic to ensure the procedure is not painful. We can stop the problematic area of the nail from growing back by applying phenol.
- There are two types of surgery, Partial Nail Avulsion which is where we remove the section of the nail that is problematic and Total Nail Avulsion which is the complete removal of the whole nail.
- If the nail isn’t too severe we can remove the ingrown part of the nail and try to cut it to prevent it from becoming ingrown again.
- We may prescribe a topical cream.
- Place an antiseptic dressing on the nail.
How to ease them
- Soak your feet in a warm salt bath three to four times a day for 20 minutes at a This softens the skinand relieves tenderness.
- Wear wide comfortable shoes or sandals so the foot doesn’t rub.