Nail Surgery and Curing Ingrown Toenails
Your local experts here to help with painful infected toes
Ingrown toenails commonly occur on the sides of your big toenails often as a result of:
- Cutting your nails incorrectly or too short
- Sporting activities; your feet may sweat more making the skin softer and easier for the nail to penetrate
- Wearing shoes that don’t fit correctly
- A traumatic injury to the toenail causing deformity
- Thickened nails caused by a fungal infection
- Wide fan-shaped toenails
An ingrown toenail can be swollen and tender but can eventually become increasingly painful, red and infected. Your skin may start to grow over the edge of the nail plate. This excessive growth of skin is called hyper-granulation tissue and can easily bleed if bumped.
What should I do if I have an Ingrown Toenail?
- Soak your foot in cooled, boiled salt water 2-3 times a day initially
- Keep your toenail covered with a clean dry dressing and change daily
- If this does not settle the inflammation it is advisable to contact the podiatry clinic to determine the best course of treatment for your condition
- People with Diabetes and/or a poor blood supply to the feet, should seek medical attention immediately
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How can I prevent an Ingrown Toenail?
- Follow the natural curvature of your toe using the white band on your nail as a guide and cut the nail across, filing any sharp edges
- Avoid cutting deep down the side of the nails or ‘digging’ with sharp instruments
- Ensure that your shoes and socks are not too tight
- Maintain good foot hygiene by washing your feet and changing socks daily
- Seek advice if your feet perspire excessively
How can a Podiatrist help?
- Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed if an infection is present, however, we may simply trim the nail to remove the offending nail spike, relieving the pressure and allowing the tissue to heal on its own
- Recurring ingrown toenails may require a simple surgical procedure performed in the Podiatry clinic for a permanent solution. The procedure involves injecting the toe with a small amount of local anaesthetic, removing the nail spike and applying a chemical to prevent the portion of the nail regrowing. It is not always necessary to remove all the nail but only the offending edge
“I have had a really excellent experience with Care for Feet. They have looked after my son really well. He has had two minor surgeries and they really helped him to understand what was happening and to feel calm throughout. They have also done everything possible to be flexible to ensure that we had our appointments at times that suited us and as quickly as possible. I would certainly recommend them to my family and friends.”
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
Medical Disclaimer. Always consult your Podiatrist. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an appropriate treatment plan.