What are the main causes of ingrown toenails. How can you prevent ingrown toenails at home. What are the best treatment options for ingrown toenails. When should you seek professional medical help for an ingrown toenail. How do podiatrists treat severe cases of ingrown toenails.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails: A Painful Foot Condition

Ingrown toenails are a common and often painful foot condition that occurs when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin. This typically affects the big toe, causing discomfort, inflammation, and in some cases, infection. The sharp edge of the nail digging into the sensitive skin can lead to a cascade of symptoms, ranging from mild irritation to severe pain that impacts daily activities.

Dr. Christopher R. Hood Jr., D.P.M., of Premier Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, explains the progression of an ingrown toenail: “The sharp edge digging into the skin may set a pathway of irritation to inflammation (warmth, redness, swelling) to infection (drainage, pus), all of which cause pain.” The intensity of pain associated with ingrown toenails is due to the high concentration of nerve endings in the affected area.

Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails: From Footwear to Grooming Habits

While there isn’t a single definitive cause for ingrown toenails, several factors can contribute to their development:

• Ill-fitting shoes: Tight shoes that compress the toes can force the nail to grow abnormally.
• Repetitive pressure: Activities like running or cycling that put constant pressure on the toes can increase the risk.
• Improper nail trimming: Cutting toenails too short or at an angle can encourage inward growth.
• Genetic predisposition: Some people may be more prone to ingrown toenails due to the natural shape of their nails.
• Trauma: Injuries to the toe can alter nail growth patterns.

Dr. Hood emphasizes the impact of footwear: “If your shoes fit too tight around the toes, it puts more pressure on the front of your foot, pushing your toes into the end.” This constant pressure can alter the nail’s growth direction, leading to ingrown toenails.

Prevention Strategies: Proper Nail Care and Footwear Choices

Preventing ingrown toenails often comes down to proper foot care and making smart choices about footwear. Here are some effective prevention strategies:

1. Trim nails correctly: Cut straight across, avoiding rounded edges.
2. Maintain proper nail length: Keep nails long enough to prevent inward growth, but short enough to avoid debris accumulation.
3. Choose appropriate footwear: Opt for shoes with a wide toe box to prevent compression.
4. Practice good foot hygiene: Keep feet clean and dry to prevent infections.
5. Use protective gear: When engaging in activities that put pressure on toes, use appropriate padding or toe protectors.

Are there specific nail trimming techniques to prevent ingrown toenails? Dr. Hood recommends cutting straight across, ensuring you’re not angling the cut or digging into the corners. He advises keeping toenails at a length of one to two millimeters at the end, striking a balance between preventing inward growth and avoiding debris accumulation.

Home Remedies: First Line of Defense Against Ingrown Toenails

When you notice the early signs of an ingrown toenail, there are several home remedies you can try before seeking professional help:

• Epsom salt soaks: Soak the affected foot in lukewarm water with Epsom salt for about 20 minutes.
• Gentle massage: After soaking, gently massage the affected area to encourage outward nail growth.
• Over-the-counter ointments: Apply antibiotic or salicylic acid ointments to reduce inflammation and soften the skin.
• Proper footwear: Wear open-toed shoes or sandals to reduce pressure on the affected toe.
• Cotton wedging: Carefully place a small piece of cotton between the nail and skin to guide growth.

Dr. Ellie Nasser, D.P.M., from Geisinger Health System, recommends lukewarm Epsom salt soaks: “In the early stages of an ingrown nail, lukewarm epsom salt soaks may help to break up any debris building up beneath the nail and reduce inflammation.” This method can be particularly effective when combined with gentle massage and the application of antibiotic ointment.

When to Seek Professional Help: Recognizing Severe Symptoms

While many cases of ingrown toenails can be managed at home, there are instances when professional medical intervention is necessary. You should consult a podiatrist if you experience:

• Persistent pain that doesn’t improve with home remedies
• Signs of infection, such as pus, redness, or warmth spreading beyond the immediate area
• Recurring ingrown toenails
• Severe swelling or discoloration of the toe
• Difficulty walking or performing daily activities due to toe pain

Dr. Hood strongly advises against attempting to perform “bathroom surgery” on your own. Improper handling of an ingrown toenail can lead to further complications and infections.

Professional Treatment Options: From Conservative to Surgical Approaches

When home remedies fail to resolve an ingrown toenail, podiatrists have several treatment options at their disposal:

Partial Nail Avulsion

For fully ingrown nails with signs of infection, doctors may perform a partial nail avulsion. Dr. Hood explains, “This entails locally numbing the digit and using sterile instruments, freeing up the entire border from the skin and cutting it out.” This procedure provides immediate relief and allows the nail to regrow properly.

Slant-Back Procedure

If only the corner of the nail is affected, a podiatrist might perform a slant-back procedure. This involves cutting out the corner of the nail that’s digging into the skin, allowing for proper regrowth.

Chemical Matrixectomy

For recurring ingrown toenails, a more permanent solution might be necessary. Dr. Hood describes a process where a chemical, usually an acid, is applied to the nail matrix: “I relate this to placing a ‘weed killer’ to the root of the nail so it does not grow back, which is typically highly effective.” This prevents future ingrowth in the treated area.

Recovery and Aftercare: Ensuring Proper Healing

After professional treatment for an ingrown toenail, proper aftercare is crucial for optimal healing and prevention of recurrence:

1. Follow your podiatrist’s instructions carefully
2. Keep the treated area clean and dry
3. Apply prescribed or recommended ointments as directed
4. Wear loose, comfortable shoes during the healing process
5. Avoid strenuous activities that put pressure on the affected toe
6. Monitor for signs of infection or complications

How long does recovery typically take after ingrown toenail treatment? The healing time can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the type of treatment performed. Generally, patients can expect to see improvement within a few days to a week, with complete healing taking several weeks.

Long-Term Prevention: Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Toenails

Preventing future occurrences of ingrown toenails involves making some long-term lifestyle changes:

• Maintain proper foot hygiene
• Invest in well-fitting, comfortable shoes
• Trim toenails regularly and correctly
• Protect feet during high-impact activities
• Address any underlying foot conditions that may contribute to nail problems

Can certain dietary changes help prevent ingrown toenails? While there’s no direct link between diet and ingrown toenails, maintaining overall health through proper nutrition can contribute to stronger nails and better circulation in the feet, potentially reducing the risk of nail problems.

Understanding the causes, prevention, and treatment options for ingrown toenails empowers individuals to take better care of their foot health. By implementing proper nail care techniques, choosing appropriate footwear, and seeking timely professional help when needed, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing this painful condition. Remember, while home remedies can be effective for mild cases, persistent or severe symptoms warrant consultation with a podiatrist to ensure proper treatment and prevent complications.

How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Toenail

The excruciating pain of an ingrown toenail is unlike any other: The sharp, stabbing pain with every step you take can be unbearable, to the point that simply shuffling down the hall can feel impossible.

If you have an ingrown toenail, the side border of your toenail — usually your big toe —starts to dig in and irritate the skin, explains Christopher R. Hood Jr., D.P.M., of Premier Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

“The sharp edge digging into the skin may set a pathway of irritation to inflammation (warmth, redness, swelling) to infection (drainage, pus), all of which cause pain,” he says.

Plus, ingrown toenails hurt so damn bad because the skin near your nail corners is a particularly sensitive area, since it’s rich with nerves, says Jeffrey D. Lehrman, D.P.M., of Crozer-Keystone Health System.

But how do they happen in the first place, and how can you get rid of them? We’ve got the answers.

What causes ingrown toenails?

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There’s no straight answer for what causes ingrown toenails. But it could be anything from your attire to your workout to your grooming habits. Tight-fitting shoes, for instance, can heighten your risk of getting a ingrown toenail. If your shoes fit too tight around the toes, it puts more pressure on the front of your foot, pushing your toes into the end, says Dr. Hood.

Ingrown toenails are also common among runners. “Any activity with repetitive pressure of the nail in the shoe, such as running, biking, or other sports, can put you at risk for an ingrown nail,” says Ellie Nasser, D.P.M., a podiatry associate in the department of orthopedics at Geisinger Health System. Pressure on the nail encourages the nail to grow beneath the skin, which causes irritation and swelling.

Clipping your nails too short or cutting them at an angle can also impact the way the nail grows, encouraging them to grow into the skin rather than straight out, says Dr. Hood. Make sure that you’re following the proper way to cut your toenails (yes, there is one): Cut straight across, making sure you’re not doing so at an angle or digging in to the corners. You should also keep your toenails long — say, one to two millimeters at the end of the nail — so they’re not at risk of growing inward, but short enough so debris can’t gather underneath them, says Dr. Hood.

How to get rid of ingrown toenails

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If you already have an ingrown toenail, don’t freak out: chances are good that you can treat it at home without resorting to any outside intervention. “In the early stages of an ingrown nail, lukewarm epsom salt soaks may help to break up any debris building up beneath the nail and reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Nasser. If you soak your feet for 20 minutes, the lukewarm water will encourage the nail to grow outward; it’ll also get rid of debris, which will help to prevent buildup and possible infection.

Afterwards, don’t forget to apply an ointment. Over-the-counter topical meds like a triple antibiotic ointment can help induce infection risk, and ointments containing salicylic acid can help soften the skin.

“Don’t play bathroom surgeon.”

If the issue doesn’t get better over the next few days, you need to consult a podiatrist. “Don’t play bathroom surgeon,” says Dr. Hood. If just the corner at the end of your nail is digging into your skin, your doctor may perform something called the slant-back procedure, in which the corner of the nail is cut out to allow the nail to stop growing into the skin.

But if you have a fully ingrown nail along with signs of infection, such as thick, yellow, or milky-colored pus, your doctor may perform a partial nail avulsion to get rid of that bad boy. “This entails locally numbing the digit and using sterile instruments, freeing up the entire border from the skin and cutting it out,” says Dr. Hood. (In case you want to absolutely ruin your day, here is an absolutely NSFW GIF of an ingrown toenail being removed, which you should watch at your own risk.)

If you tend to get recurrences of ingrown toenails, your doctor will place a medicine, usually an acid, under the skin at the base of the nail, which destroys the nail matrix where your nail is growing from, says Dr. Hood.

“I relate this to placing a ‘weed killer’ to the root of the nail so it does not grow back, which is typically high effective,” he says.

Emily Shiffer
Emily Shiffer is a former digital web producer for Men’s Health and Prevention, and is currently a freelancer writer specializing in health, weight loss, and fitness.

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When Should You Go to the Doctor for an Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail can sometimes be managed on your own, but here at Podiatry Associates in Baltimore, we always recommend medical attention, especially since an infection may occur in the toenail. If you detect any signs of an ingrown toenail infection like pain, swelling, irritation, abscess, redness, you should immediately go to see a foot doctor or podiatrist. Ingrown nail surgery can be provided by any one of our podiatrists.  If you find any signs of infection, you should take care to seek immediate medical attention.

What happens if you leave an ingrown toenail alone?

If the infected ingrown toenail is left unaddressed, then it can cause further infection and pain. The infection can spread to the underlying area and may lead to bone infection which is very serious.  So, if infection occurs in ingrown toenail, it should not be left untreated otherwise serious complications can occur.   It can be very painful and debilitating.    

An infected toenail may feel warm to touch, and in some cases an abscess may be present which can cause fever symptoms.   The infected ingrown toenail causes severe pain and discomfort accompanied with bleeding, swelling, throbbing, and redness around the area.    

If you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, you need to be more vigilant, otherwise you can have very serious complications.    

Ingrown toenail removal surgery can be performed to relieve the patient of pain and other discomfort.  

How does a doctor fix an ingrown toenail?

There are a few different types of treatments and surgery for ingrown toenails such as inserting a wedge of medicated cotton between your nail and the inflamed skin to relieve the pain and drain the infection. The abscess can also be drained through an incision which is made after giving local anesthesia.  Following the drainage, the surgeon places a sterile gauze to allow drainage for 1-2 days and remove the infection. The surgeon may prescribe antibiotic ointments and tablets to dry the infection and in other cases surgical excision of the ingrown toenail is done to relieve the patient of any pain and complications.  

If you find infection in your ingrown toenail, and you want the best care, you should immediately schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists.

What is the main cause of ingrown toenails?

With the change in the shape of your toenail, the ridges that hold your toe in place can lose their connection. This can cause the toenail to grow into the sides or corners of your skin. This is called an ingrown toenail. 

Infection in an ingrown toenail can occur due to improper or tight-fitting shoes, inappropriate trimming of toenails, fungal infection of the nail, injury or trauma around the nail area, heredity etc.

If you need ingrown toenail treatment in the Baltimore and the surrounding areas or have any questions about the treatments described above, check out our Podiatry Associates locations and find a podiatrist near you. Feel free to call our scheduling office to discuss your specific situation: (833) 500-FEET.

10 Ways to Treat Ingrown Toenails

1. Try a foot soak. Allow your sore toe to soak in a warm salt water bath for 15 minutes a couple of times every day. This soak can help relieve pain and swelling in an ingrown toenail. Dry your foot completely after each soak.
2. Keep your foot dry except when soaking.
3. Take an over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
4. Gently pull the skin away from the nail using a small nail file or other blunt device that won’t cut or hurt the toe.
5. Stuff tiny pieces of clean, moist cotton between the ingrown toenail and the skin to help separate them and provide a little cushioning to the skin. You can soak the cotton in a bit of water or an antiseptic cleanser first.
6. Rub your toe with antibiotic ointment to help reduce your chance of developing an infection.
7. Cover the sore toe with a Band-Aid or other bandage to offer a little extra padding and protection.
8. Choose shoes that are easy on your toes. Shoes made of soft fabrics with a wide toe are a good choice — try wearing sandals if you can. Avoid shoes that pinch the toes or place pressure on the ingrown toenail.
9. Inspect your toe carefully for signs of infection. Check every day for signs and symptoms like redness, increased pain, swelling, and drainage of pus.
10.   See a podiatrist if you see signs of infection, or if your ingrown toenail keeps coming back.

Ingrown toenails are often a recurring problem. “If it’s a problem, if it’s recurrent, you should see a podiatrist who can fix the problem,” says Mauser. “It’s a small surgical procedure where you permanently remove the ingrown corner of the nail.

Prevention is often your best method for controlling the pain of ingrown toenails. There are numerous ways to prevent toenails from curving over and digging into the skin of your toe. Buying properly fitting footwear (it shouldn’t squeeze the toes) and cutting your toenails correctly (not too short and in a straight line across), are two easiest methods. “Once you start digging down the sides you’re probably going to get an infection,” says Mauser.

People with diabetes should carefully examine their feet regularly, and should always see a doctor about an ingrown toenail.

If you spot an ingrown toenail, act fast to prevent an infection. Use these tips to treat an ingrown toenail, and head to a podiatrist at the first sign of infection.

Ingrown Toenail, Infected (Antibiotics, No Excision)

An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail grows sideways into the skin alongside the nail. This can cause pain. It can also lead to an infection with redness, swelling, and sometimes drainage.

The most common cause of an ingrown toenail is trimming your nails wrong. Most people trim the nails too close to the skin and try to round the nail too tightly around the shape of the toe. When you do this, the nail can grow into the skin of your toe. It’s safer to trim the nail ending in a straight line rather than a curve.

Other causes include injury or wearing shoes that are too short or tight. This can cause the same problem that happens when trimming your nails. Your genetics can also make this more likely to happen.

The following are the most common symptoms of an ingrown toenail: 

• Pain

• Redness

• Swelling

• Drainage

If the infection is mild, you may be able to take care of it at home with the following measures:

• Frequent warm water soaks

• Keeping it clean

• Wearing loose, comfortable shoes or sandals

Another method involves using a small piece of cotton or waxed dental floss to gently lift up the corner of the problem nail. Change the cotton or floss frequently, especially if it gets dirty.

If your infection is mild, and the above methods aren’t working, or if the infection gets worse, see your healthcare provider. Signs of worsening infection include:

• Swelling

• Redness

• Pus drainage

• Increased pain

In some cases, you may need antibiotics along with warm soaks. If after 2 to 3 days of antibiotics the toenail doesn’t get better or gets worse, part of the nail may need to be removed to drain the infection. With treatment, it can take 1 to 2 weeks to clear up completely.

Home care

Wound care

For the next 3 days, soak and clean your toe in warm water a few times a day.

• Twice a day for the first 3 days, clean and soak the toe as follows:

  1. Soak your foot in a tub of warm water for 5 minutes. Or, hold your toe under a faucet of warm running water for 5 minute

  2. Clean any remaining crust away with soap and water using a cotton swab.

  3. Put a small amount of antibiotic ointment on the infected area.

• Change the dressing or bandage every time you soak or clean it, or whenever it becomes wet or dirty.

• If you were prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed until they are all gone.

• Wear comfortable shoes with a lot of toe room, or open-toe sandals, while your toe is healing.

Medicines

• You can take over-the-counter medicine for pain, unless you were given a different pain medicine to use. Note: Talk with your provider before using these medicines if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, ever had a stomach ulcer or digestive bleeding, or are taking blood-thinner medicines.

• If you were given antibiotics, take them until they are used up or your provider tells you to stop, even if the wound looks better. This makes sure that the infection clears up.

Prevention

To prevent ingrown toenails:

• Wear shoes that fit well. Don’t wear shoes that pinch the toes together.

• When you trim your toenails, don’t cut them too short. Cut straight across at the top and don’t round the edges.

• Don’t use a sharp object to clean under your nail since this might cause an infection.

• If the toenail starts to grow into the skin again, put a small piece of waxed dental floss or cotton under that side of the nail to help it grow out straight.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. If the antibiotic doesn’t work, or if the condition happens again, you may need to have part of the nail removed.

When to seek medical advice

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Increasing redness, pain, or swelling of the toe

• Red streaks in the skin leading away from the wound

• Pus or fluid drainage

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider

How Podiatrists Fix Ingrown Toenails

Whether you’ve groomed your feet a little too aggressively (more on that later) or you’re a runner who’s parted with a toenail, ingrowns are a common if unsightly issue. They’re fairly easy to fix too, says Jane Andersen, DPM, a podiatrist at Chapel Hill Foot and Ankle Associates in North Carolina. The two exceptions: If you have diabetes or vascular disease, see your doctor immediately instead of going the DIY route, as ingrown toenails can become much bigger issues for people with those conditions. Otherwise, here’s your at-home solution:

Step 1 – Take a Soak

Fill up your tub or a large bowl with warm water, and add 1 Tbsp. of Epsom salts for every quart of water. (Andersen prefers Epsom, but says you can use table salt in a pinch.) “Soak your foot for 20 minutes twice a day,” she says. “It’ll draw out any fluid that might be under the nail, and Epsom salts are really soothing if you’re dealing with an infection.”

Step 2 – Massage It

Your skin will be pretty pliable after a good soak, so now’s the time to “gently use your fingers to massage the skin back away from the nail, so the nail has room to grow over the skin,” says Andersen.

Step 3 – Do the Thing You Thought You Weren’t Supposed to Do

You’re going to stick something underneath your nail. Take a really small piece of cotton, ball it up so that’s it’s firm and put it beneath the part of your nail that’s growing into the skin. “Leave a little tail so you can easily take it out when you need to change it,” says Andersen. “The idea is to lift the nail so it can grow up and over the skin instead of getting caught under it.” Change the cotton every couple of days, or after each soak, if you prefer. Once you’ve placed the cotton, apply an antibiotic ointment if you think the nail is infected (you’d notice redness, swelling and warmth) and top it with a bandage.

What to Do If Your Nail Isn’t Getting Better

If you’re not seeing signs of improvement within a week, or it’s actually getting worse, see a podiatrist. There’s a very simple in-office procedure they can do to take care of the ingrown, says Andersen, which involves numbing the toe and removing a sliver of the nail itself. They’ll also know how to handle infections, which can be serious if left untreated, potentially spreading to the bone. (More reason not to let the problem drag on and on.)

How to Not Get One Ever Again

The best way to avoid ingrowns is to get your clipping technique right. You want to cut straight across, says Andersen, and gently smooth out the corners so they’re not sharp enough to pierce your skin. “If you cut the corners back too far, the skin grows over the edge and the nail can’t grow out,” she says. When you lose entire toenails (whether it’s because you’re wearing too-small shoes, you’re a runner or tennis player or you just dropped something heavy on your toe), it’s more likely to grow back funky, says Andersen, so be sure to massage the skin back as the nail grows in to give it space. Finally, anything that could thicken your nail, like a fungal infection, could lead to an ingrown, so if you’ve got fungus brewing, take care of it ASAP.

Will Ingrown Toenails Heal Left Untreated?

Ingrown toenails left untreated usually cause a lot of pain, can get infected and, in the worst situations, can actually lead to bone infections and loss of the toe. It is always surprising to those who have never suffered an ingrown toenail how much a small piece of nail stuck in the skin can hurt so much. Toes and fingers happen to be able to sense a great deal due to their dense distribution of nerve endings. If you can ever remember having something small like a sliver of fiberglass or a very small splinter in your finger, you can get a sense of how painful an ingrown nail can be.

Ingrown toenails have varied causes. When the nail plate is shaped normally ingrown toenails are less likely but can still be an issue. A normal nail plate is flat when you site down the toe. An incurvated nail will look like a staple when you sight down it. Incurvated nails lead to most of the instances of ingrowing nails

Incurvated Nail

If the toenail is cut improperly in the corner leaving a barbed edge, this will lead to an ingrown nail as it grows out and buries the sharp fragment in the flesh. Other causes of ingrown toenail are wearing tight, too small shoes and stockings, trauma to the nail and fungus infection of the nail.

Ingrown Toenail Symptoms

Ingrown toenails can cause impressive amounts of pain. Even if bed sheets touch the toe, for example, it can send waves of pain through the toe. A non-infected ingrown toenail is going to have a reddened, swollen appearance where the nail is digging into the flesh. There may be bleeding from the area and a great deal of pain. If there is pus, a bad odor or red streaking coming from the toe then it has become infected. There may appear to be a blister around the side of the nail that most likely contains pus. This is known as an abscess. This blister may not be a blister at all but something known as proud flesh. This proud flesh can engulf the nail edge and sometimes the entire nail becomes covered by this easy to bleed tissue.

What Will Happen If the Ingrown Nail Is Left Untreated?

If the infected ingrown nail is left untreated the infection can spread to the bone beneath the nail or, in extreme cases, enter the blood stream and cause sepsis, gangrene or a flesh eating disorder. For those with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, an ingrown toenail should never be left untreated. Fortunately there are treatments for ingrown nail that are quick and generally painless.

Treatments for Ingrown Toenail

Due to the pain of ingrown toenail and the often extremely scary look and smell of an infected ingrown toenail, people often head to the emergency room. This is appropriate for diabetics, people with peripheral vascular disease and those who are suffering fever and chills or flu-like symptoms along with the ingrown toenail. This is especially true if the condition has been discovered late at night when their doctors offices or urgent care centers are closed. In most instances, the professional treatment of an ingrown nail can wait to the morning. The use of Epson salt soaks, application of triple antibiotic cream (e.g. Neosporin), taking some ibuprofen or acetaminophen along with using a slipper or roomy shoe can give the otherwise healthy ingrown toenail sufferer some relief until the morning.

Home Treatments for Ingrown Toenail

If the ingrown toenail is not infected and minor and the sufferer is otherwise healthy, clipping of the ingrown nail segment can be attempted at home with sterilized or disinfected clippers. The edge should be filed smooth and triple antibiotic cream can be applied. Alternatively, cotton can be wedged underneath the ingrowing nail edge to guide it out of the flesh along with triple antibiotic cream applications. If the ingrown toenail is infected professional help should be enlisted.

Surgery for Ingrown Toenail

Most surgery for ingrown toenail is a minor affair in the podiatrists office. Usually a local anesthetic is used and the ingrown nail section, any proud flesh and abscesses are removed or drained. If the nail is severely incurvated and the person has had multiple instances of ingrown nails, a matricectomy is recommended.

A matricectomy involves removing the incurvated section of nail followed by application of carbolic acid with a cotton stick and an alcohol rinse. After one to two weeks, the nail edge heals and the nail section usually never returns to cause problems again. The cosmetic result is usually very satisfactory with the nail having a normal, flat appearance. Insurance generally will cover the cost of this procedure following the terms of the individuals insurance contract. If you suffer from this condition we welcome you to come in for a consultation with our helpful, knowledgeable staff.

For more information on ingrown toenails or to schedule a consultation, contact Essex Union Podiatry today.

Stop Ingrown Toenails Permanently | Fixing Feet PLLC

For some people, an ingrown toenail was a one-and-done problem. It may have developed as a result of an accidental injury, or because someone tried to make do with a pair of running shoes that was a little too tight. We fix the problem, the patient corrects any contributing behaviors, and that’s the end of it.

However, for others ingrown toenails are a constant struggle. If you’ve been there, you know. No matter what you do—trimming toenails straight across, wearing roomier shoes, protecting your feet—they keep coming back. Unfortunately, some people really do have a genetic disadvantage as far as ingrown nails are concerned. If your nails are naturally very curvy, this could be you.

For those who can’t seem to stop ingrown toenails from returning, however, there is a permanent solution available.

Normally when we perform an ingrown toenail removal, we’ll simply cut and remove the offending edge. This brings quick pain relief, but in time the edge will grow back and could become ingrown again. However, we can also perform an additional procedure to destroy a portion of the nail matrix. This permanently halts the growth of new nail tissue along the problematic edge, fixing your ingrown toenail problem for good—at least for that side of that particular toe.

Compared to the standard ingrown toenail procedure, the permanent fix tends to produce a little more post-operative pain and soreness and comes with a longer recovery time. However, it shouldn’t prevent you from engaging in weight bearing activity. Full recovery may take a couple of weeks.

Many people are understandably concerned about appearance whenever talk of this procedure comes up. Although it’s true your toenail won’t look quite the same as it used to, we usually don’t have to remove much of the matrix—just a sliver along one side—so the end result can still look quite normal. In any case, it’s usually a very small price to pay considering the years of freedom from pain you may receive!

If painful ingrown toenails keep coming back, talk with the team at Fixing Feet Institute to see if a more permanent solution would be right for you. To schedule an appointment with us in Surprise, AZ please call (623) 584-5556.

Removal of an ingrown toenail with a laser

Ingrown toenail: causes and treatment

If you always wear uncomfortable tight shoes, and your occupation is associated with prolonged standing, with prolonged walking, you have a high risk of developing an ingrown toenail. In this case, the toenail grows into the soft tissue. This is accompanied by pain and inflammation. If you have an ingrown toenail, treatment should only take place in a clinic.

Causes of ingrown toenail

The development of the disease is facilitated by flat feet with deformity of the thumb.The risk of developing an ingrown toe increases after frostbite and injuries. Improperly fitted shoes cause the edges of the nail plate to bend and grow into the edge of the toe.

The nail also grows in due to the fact that a person does not cut nails correctly. If you cut your nail too short, too deep and do not leave a straight line, then over time, the nail grows into the skin.

As you can see, the reasons for an ingrown toenail are quite diverse and are associated, first of all, with the fact that a person does not follow the rules of personal hygiene insufficiently.

Ingrown nail symptoms

First of all, an inflammatory change in the nail fold occurs. Swelling, redness and soreness develop, first when walking and pressing, and then at rest. Symptoms of an ingrown toenail are also characterized by the fact that it becomes difficult for a person to wear shoes of the usual shape.

If the correction of an ingrown toenail is out of time, then over time it becomes infected. The pain intensifies, becomes unbearable, a large amount of pus begins to stand out from the nail.In the presence of concomitant diseases that significantly aggravate the course of the disease, the infectious process can spread to nearby bones and muscles.

Ingrown nail treatment

Of course, in the initial stages, the disease is well treated conservatively. Warm baths and anti-fungal therapy are used. It is also practiced to correct an ingrown nail with surgical plates.

If these methods do not bring the desired result, then the ingrown nail is surgically removed.Do not be afraid of such an operation, as it is absolutely painless and safe.

The operation to remove an ingrown toenail can be performed using a laser, as well as a radio wave method. Such treatments for nail disease ensure that there is no recurrence.

If there is a neglected ingrown toenail, the operation is required. Sometimes, with a recurring disease, we carry out not only the complete removal of the nail plate, but also the entire area in which the toenail grows.In this case, a defect is formed, which is corrected by autodermoplasty using a skin flap. This way you can achieve a complete cure for an ingrown nail, since it will no longer grow.

In our clinic, an ingrown toenail can be cured quickly, efficiently and painlessly. Take advantage of quality treatment for an ingrown toenail problem.

90,000 Ingrown nail treatment in Nizhny Novgorod

Titanium thread – a new modern corrective Swiss system for the treatment of ingrown and deformed nails

Titanium thread is a special alloy of titanium and nickel, it is very strong, elastic, highly corrosion resistant and does not cause allergies.

The most important thing is that it has a shape memory – after fixation on the nail, the thread begins to strive for its original shape, pulling the edges of the nail towards itself, lifting them out of the skin, relieving pain and inflammation.

Over time, a healthy marigold is formed, which is not prone to ingrowth.

Terms of wearing titanium thread:

• from six months to one and a half years, depending on the degree of ingrowth and other individual factors.It needs to be corrected as the marigold grows.

Titanium thread applies:

• with inflammation of the nail folds

• with an ingrown nail

• with deformation of the nail plate (thickening, curvature)

• with detachment of the nail plate from the nail bed

Titanium thread advantage:

• Painless installation (no anesthesia)

• High strength, flexibility and elasticity of the material

• The ability to use the system on the smallest nails (for children)

• Does not interfere with the usual way of life

• Looks completely natural and aesthetically pleasing

• Lack of recovery period

After installing the titanium thread, pain disappears, and the nail begins to grow correctly without injuring the lateral ridges.

In the photo: treatment of an ingrown toenail using the titanium thread

B / S plates are an effective tool that allows you to painlessly and without surgery to correct an ingrown nail

B / S-plate is an elastic plate made of duroplasts and fiberglass. It is installed directly on the nail using special glue in a few seconds.

Like an elastic spring, the plate lifts the nail edges, preventing the nail from growing into soft tissue.The ingrown angle ceases to irritate the nail fold. The patient immediately feels a decrease in pain, a decrease in edema and inflammation in the damaged area of ​​the finger. The pulling force of the BS-plate weakens over time, because the growth of the nail is corrected. A normal arch of the nail is gradually formed and the ingrowth is no longer repeated.

Wearing plate B / S:

• it takes six months to correct the shape and direction of nail growth, the plate is replaced every month.

The BS-plate installed on the deformed nail is outwardly invisible, no special maintenance is required, you can apply a decorative coating to the nail.

The reasons why the marigold begins to grow in:

• Wearing uncomfortable shoes (tight or high-heeled shoes)

• Incorrect nail clipping (deep, oblique)

• Flat feet or deformity of the foot

• Hereditary predisposition

• Nail injuries

• Fungal nail diseases;

• Violation of blood circulation in the lower extremities

• Diabetes

• Weight gain (pregnancy)

In the absence of correct and timely treatment, serious complications arise:

• Infection of inflamed tissues;

• Development of necrosis;

• Purulent inflammation of the adjacent bone tissue;

• Gangrene and finger amputation (patients with diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis)

To solve the problem of an ingrown toenail, contact a specialist!

Removal of an ingrown nail in Nizhny Tagil – MC “Olmed”

An ingrown nail is the ingrowth of the lateral part of the nail plate into the nail roller. Most often, the nail on the thumb is prone to ingrowth. The disease is accompanied by severe pain and redness of the skin, and the site of ingrowth becomes inflamed. The pain increases significantly when walking.

Reasons:

• Incorrect pedicure (cutting corners of toenails)
• Injuries to feet, toes
• Narrow, tight shoes
• Fungus on the legs
• Stiff seam socks or tights at toe
• Hereditary form of nails and nail folds

Stages of ingrowth

1. Redness, swelling and pain.
2. The infection joins. An ingrown nail behaves like a foreign body, swelling and suppuration appears.
3. The nail phalanx is deformed, the disease becomes irreversible.

Treatment:

At the first stage, conservative treatment of an ingrown nail is possible, but it is very long and in this case there is a high probability of relapse. The surgeons of the OLMED MC recommend an operative method of treating an ingrown toenail.

During surgery for an ingrown nail, the nail plate is resected with the removal of the ingrown nail area, as well as the reversal of the nail fold.This operation is an alternative to removing the entire nail plate, as well as the prevention of recurrence of ingrowth. In addition to the operation, the surgeon of the MC “OLMED” conducts an explanatory conversation with the patient on how to avoid ingrowth, how to properly care for the legs and nails.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis and takes a maximum of 30 minutes. After the operation, the patient is observed for half an hour and goes home. Further observation and dressings are also carried out on an outpatient basis and do not require hospitalization.If the suture technique is used during the operation, then the sutures are removed for 5-7 days.

In the MC “OLMED” the cosmetic aspect of the operation is also provided. Scars on the finger are subtle and do not cause discomfort to the patient.

Prevention of nail ingrowth:

• Cutting toenails in a straight line, not obliquely
• Wearing comfortable shoes that are appropriate for size

Occasional wear of open-toed shoes (sandals, sandals, flip-flops, etc.)and walking barefoot.

Customer Reviews

My mother is 93 years old, she periodically needs medical help. In this case, a consultation with a surgeon was required, but, unfortunately, the district polyclinic does not provide for specialists to visit bedridden patients at home. It turned out that in great … hogs!

02 November 2021

I would like to thank the administrators of your clinic on the street.Frunze, 20 for kindness, friendliness, respectful attitude to patients, I especially want to note Savelyeva Oksana for her wonderful smile and kindness. Thank you for the warmth and warmth … to work!

October 25, 2021

I turned to the surgeon Shakirov Marat Khazipovich for help at the Olmed clinic on 20 Frunze St. … people.x

October 25, 2021

Good afternoon! I would like to express my gratitude to the wonderful doctor – Sergei Sergeevich Batakov. Thank you for your work. You are a wonderful doctor, attentive to your patients, a true professional in your field. I wish you good health, from … r 2021

October 23, 2021

Hello! I have been a regular client of the Olmed center since 2011.I would like to express my gratitude to Nikolai Alekseevich Kravchenko. You are one of the best specialists in Yekaterinburg. Thank you for your work. You are a wonderful person, attentive to your patients … r 2021

October 23, 2021

I express my deep gratitude for the professionalism of the doctor Shakirov Marat Khazipovich. Operation was successfully completed! The necessary recommendations for restoration have been issued. Experience and a well-coordinated team do the right thing – help people! Thanks a lot! Protsve … hurry!

06 October 2021

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Why customers are satisfied with our work

Highly qualified doctors

Our doctors are not only highly qualified in diagnostics and treatment, but will also treat you with maximum participation.

Convenient complex programs

So that you can foresee everything and save your budget and time, we have developed special complex programs.

Modern diagnostic methods

The variety of diagnostic methods we use allows us to identify the disease accurately and quickly.

Effective approaches in treatment and prevention

By contacting us, you can be sure that the treatment meets the latest international standards

90,000 Treatment of ingrown nails, removal of calluses and corns

Professional foot care for women and men. Do you have an ingrown toenail? Our certified specialists can help you without surgery!

Your legs carry the entire weight of your body and therefore deserve constant care and close attention. When neglected, the skin on your feet can become a source of leg pain and cause discomfort and further problems. Ingrown toenails more often occur on the big toe, although there are cases with the rest of the nails, but extremely rarely. If an ingrown toenail is left untreated, the disease can progress and cause serious complications.Prolonged inflammation in the nail phalanx can cause the attachment of other, more severe infections.

Entrust your feet to the care of our specialist.
In our beauty center, you can use a free consultation with our podiatrist if you are concerned about something, be it corns, blisters, ingrown toenail, cracked skin, burning heels, feeling of heaviness in the legs or hyperkeratosis.

Our specialist will diagnose, provide a method of treatment and give recommendations for prevention.

How to cure an ingrown toenail WITHOUT surgery?

Ingrown nails have been of concern to many women and men lately. With an ingrown toenail, a person experiences slight discomfort in the area of ​​the big toe, which is aggravated by walking, wearing too tight shoes, or pressing on the toe. If during this period you do not seek help, the discomfort will develop into unbearable pain, the skin around the finger will become inflamed, and there will be a risk of a secondary infection.

This issue can also occur due to:

• congenital features of the structure of the nail, deformity of the foot
• Incorrectly performed pedicure (heavy nail trimming), poor foot care
• tight, uncomfortable shoes that squeeze the leg where the toes are
• sweating when wearing low-quality shoes

This problem is solved surgically by removing part of the
plate or the entire nail plate using a laser.The following non-surgical treatments are available as alternatives to surgery:

• BS Special Plates
• staples ZTO, Podofix / plugging
• setting boughs

Effective treatment of ingrown toenails with plates

The correction procedure consists in the use of a special medical plate, which is glued across the nail, fixing the direction of growth of the nail plate. It should be noted that visually the plate is practically indistinguishable from the surface of the nail; if desired, it can be coated with decorative varnish.

If you treat onychocryptosis (ingrown nail) in the early stages with plates, then the cause can be eliminated quickly, the shape of the nail is corrected without further recurrence.

Ingrown toenail treatment: tamping

Tamponade is the ideal method for straightening the edge of the nails. This is one of the easiest care methods in which a long period of time slightly cuts off a part of the nail and fills the free space with a special non-woven fabric.

Installation of bongs

Placing a whip (a special tube) on the edge of an overgrown nail acts as a protector and allows the nail to grow through the hypertrophied part of the nail plate.

If you are not sure which method of treating an ingrown toenail to choose, make an appointment with our podiatrist.

You can sign up for a consultation in 2 ways:

Treatment of ingrown nails.

Examples of works

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Puts a toe near the nail?

Puts a toe near the nail?

24.10.2018

An abscess of the skin of a toe has the scientific name “periungual panaritium” – it is an acute purulent inflammation that occurs on the back of the toe, the cause of which is the penetration of infectious agents into soft tissues. Every day we are faced with many microorganisms that can cause this phenomenon. Any minor violation of the integrity of the skin of the finger can lead to a further inflammatory process. The most common cause of an abscess is the wrong pedicure technique.

Medical center “PF Clinic” not only cures if your toe breaks near the nail, but also provides medical pedicure services, which are done by doctors.

Symptoms

So, you should contact a specialist if you experience the following symptoms:

• Pulsating pain in the region of the periungual roller;

• Sensation of squeezing the subungual space;

• Local temperature rise in the area of ​​inflammation;

• Swelling of the affected toe;

• Hyperemia (redness) of the skin;

• Impossibility of normal support on the toe;

• The appearance of a bubble filled with yellow purulent contents.

The danger of this disease is that in the absence of timely treatment, an abscess can develop into a bone, tendon or articular felon, which requires serious therapy. There is a high probability of developing osteomyelitis (purulent inflammation of the elements of the bone, periosteum or bone marrow). Therefore, it is important for each patient to contact a qualified specialist in time.

Our clinic offers you the services of the most qualified doctors who will help you diagnose pathology in time and choose an effective treatment.

Treatment

To treat an abscess of the skin of a toe, PF Clinic specialists firstly remove the ingrown area of ​​the nail that causes inflammation in a non-surgical way. Then a tamponade is done and therapy is prescribed (internal or external, depending on the specific case). After that, a change in the shape of the nail plate is done using a titanium thread or a correcting bracket.

Disease prevention

To prevent an abscess of the skin of a toe, a few simple rules should be followed:

• Preventing cracked toes, using emollients and moisturizers;
• Thorough sterilization of manicure instruments;
• Compliance with the rules of foot hygiene;
• Use of antimicrobial and healing ointments in case of cuts and burns on the skin of the toes;
• Wearing comfortable shoes that prevent calluses.

These are the general rules. But in each specific case, our doctors give individual recommendations.

You can make an appointment by calling +7 (863) 207-39-39 or directly on the website. We will be glad to see you!

Back to list 90,000 Ingrown toenail – get rid of it

An ingrown toenail is much more than a cosmetic defect. This seemingly small nuisance can cause an infection in the soft tissues of the affected leg.But first things first.

An ingrown toenail is a toenail (most often on the big toe) that is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the edge of the nail fold (at the edge of the top of the toe). Due to the ingrowth of the nail, the person constantly feels warmth in the finger; the finger turns red, irritation appears on the skin, and then a wound. A more serious manifestation is wound festering. Even if the above symptoms are not observed, an infection in the finger will still appear: it’s just a matter of time.

There are several reasons for the appearance of an ingrown toenail. The most common is incorrect nail trimming. If the nails are cut too short, the skin grows over the nail. Also, the reasons for this are wearing too tight shoes and injury (for example, kicking while doing physical education). It is worth noting such points as the presence of fungal infections and hereditary predisposition.

It is necessary to start treatment in order to get rid of an ingrown toenail in the early stages of the disease – as soon as symptoms begin to appear – there are much more chances to save the situation and prevent the spread of the infection.If you postpone the treatment, it will have to be carried out in the clinic.

The easiest and most affordable way of treatment is to take warm foot baths 3-4 times a day. Then, as necessary, you should try to trim the ingrown nail. This is done in this way: the nail is cut in a straight line with sharp scissors with straight blades. The nail should be cut moderately short, namely, so that its edge is at the level of the tip of the finger. If the nail cannot be cut evenly, you should file the corners with a special file so that they do not continue to damage the skin.

It’s worth noting that a good pedicure is just as important as a manicure. Therefore, it is important to use only high-quality accessories to keep the nails in order, in particular for the treatment of an ingrown toenail in the first stage of the onset of symptoms. A pedicure can be done with the help of various devices included in pedicure sets (files, scissors, spatulas, etc.), or you can use devices for carrying out a pedicure. Such a device, as a rule, consists of a unit equipped with a control system, including a sensor, and attachments of various shapes and purposes.The number of tips can be different: from 5 to 11. Each tip has a sapphire coating. This spraying is a good abrasive. It delicately removes dead cells without injuring the living ones. The nozzle is placed on the apparatus, it is activated, and the nozzle starts to work due to the rotation created by the micromotor of the apparatus. Such devices work from a network or batteries. In a number of models, several rotation speeds are provided, so that everyone can find the most comfortable for themselves. The device, together with attachments, fits into a stylish handbag.A number of models, for example, the Tornado Pro pedicure set by the French company Gezatone, are equipped with a variety of interchangeable attachments.

Classic manicure and pedicure sets include 5 to 8 items. Their indispensable attribute is a nail file, for which sapphire coating is also used. All items included in the sets are made of high quality steel. The scissors in the sets are very sharp, which is important for treating an ingrown toenail. The catalog of the online store “Constellation of Beauty” presents a wide selection of pedicure machines and manicure and pedicure sets.You can purchase the products of the leaders in the production of manicure and pedicure machines from different countries. Solingen’s Credo sets will appeal to the most demanding customer. Solingen stands for German quality, great steel and years of experience in the production of such essential accessories.

We have described one of the treatment options for an ingrown toenail. Others are also used, for example, applying to the affected lesion aloe leaf, peeled from the upper skin. For suppuration, ointments are used.A good pedicure doesn’t hurt anyone. The neat, aesthetic appearance of toenails always attracts the eye on the beach and arouses respect for a person, because he has time to take good care of himself, even in the smallest details. “How does she manage to have such beautiful toenails? She must go to the beauty salon for hours! ” – such thoughts revolve in the heads of those who see beautifully cut and neatly filed toenails covered with varnish. It’s very simple: take care of your feet at home with a pedicure machine or kits.And then it is very likely that you will never know what an ingrown toenail is.

Treatment of an ingrown toenail in Tver

Have you been suffering from an ingrown toenail for a long time?

This is a fairly common disease, which is treated in our cosmetology clinic, since we offer treatment of an ingrown toenail without surgery, but let’s talk about everything in order.

What is an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenail or onychocryptosis is a lesion of the big toe due to deformation of the nail plate and its pressing into the nail fold.The consequence is soft tissue damage, severe inflammation, swelling and soreness.

Causes of ingrown toenail

The appearance of an ingrown toenail is facilitated by a combination of different reasons, and the main ones are:

1. Increased load on the feet

– a sharp increase in body weight

– Frequent wearing of high-heeled shoes

– change of profession (for example, permanent work standing) or lifestyle (excessive activity on the legs)

2.Wrong pedicure

– excessive strong rounding of the edges of the nail

– strong deep cut of the nail (it is advisable to leave at least 1 mm of free edge)

3. The structure of the feet

– flat feet

– Hallux valgus (bone)

4. Wrong shoes

– tight shoes

– pointed toe of boots or shoes

– shoes oversized

5.Individual features of the anatomy of the nail shape

– C – shaped with rounded edges

– U-shaped

6. Damage to the nail

– Various damage to the cuticle or damage to the field of treatment of various diseases

Symptoms and classification of an ingrown nail

First of all, you can notice the deformation of the nail and small purulent processes.The skin around the nail becomes very inflamed, a report and granulation appears. Strong pain occurs when putting on shoes and walking. Pus basically comes out on its own, without surgery and opening the abscess.

Ingrowth of the nail can be unilateral or bilateral.

Three stages of development of an ingrown nail

Three stages of the condition of an ingrown nail can be distinguished:

1. Light – there is no suppuration and changes in the nail plate, there is a slight swelling and inflammation around the nail.

2. Moderate – edema and hyperemia on the finger, the edges of the nail are hidden by inflamed skin with granulation.

3. Severe – characterized by strong thinning and fragility of the nail plate, large swelling of the tissues around the nail, granulation, an increase in the size of the damaged finger.

People with diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency and other severe pathologies should be treated with great caution in this disease, since they have a high probability of spreading pyogenic bacteria.

How is the disease diagnosed?

At the first examination, the doctor visually examines the affected nail, identifies the degree of damage and prescribes complex treatment. In severe cases, an X-ray examination and a complete blood count may be prescribed.

Ingrown toenail treatment

First of all, it is a local anti-inflammatory treatment (antifungal drugs, compresses, baths)

Secondly, you need to remove the inflamed skin ridges that interfere with the growth of the nail, raise them and push them apart with the help of special orthopedic structures: plates and brackets, which allow you to get rid of an ingrown nail after a course of treatment.