Painful Ingrown Toenails Treatment

There can be inflammation and pain when a nail edge grows into the adjacent skin. It usually happens on the sides or the ends of the big toes, although it can happen in the lesser toenails as well. If left untreated, the inflamed area may become infected and discharge pus.

Ingrown toenails are a common problem in adolescents or young adults.

Symptoms

• Sharp pain/tenderness with or without pressure exerted on the corner or side of the nail
• Redness and swelling around the toe or affected part of nail
• Pus collection at the region where the nail is ingrowing

Causes

• Improper trimming of toenails, often by trimming the nail too short or too deep and leaving sharp edges which may get embedded into the skin when the nail grows.
• Tight-fitting shoes or high heels that compress the toes, as the nail may grow abnormally with excessive pressure at the sides.
• Prolonged wearing of shoes, creating marked perspiration on the foot. This is very common among sporty adolescent males.
• Trauma or injury to the nail.
• Disorders such as fungal infections of the nail can also cause a curved, thickened or widened toenail to develop.

How can a Podiatrist help?

• Our podiatrists can effectively remove the offending nail spike with as minimal pain as possible using special nail clippers. This provides instant pain relief. Subsequent nail growth will have to be monitored closely.

• Depending on the severity, the podiatrist can perform conservative management by regular trimming and filing of the nails and applying cotton packing on the nail borders. Advice will be given on how to manage your nails subsequently to prevent recurrence.

• A podiatrist can also apply a strip of thin flexible “Curve-Correct” brace which behaves like a spring to straighten unusually curved nails, thereby preventing recurrence of the ingrown toenail.


Curve-Correct Nail Brace

• If conservative management does not prevent recurrence of an ingrown toenail, nail surgery may be recommended. This involves removing the ingrowing section of the toenail and application of a caustic chemical to destroy the nail matrix. This prevents the offending nail from growing back.

How is it different from going for pedicure?

Podiatrists are trained medical professionals in managing nail conditions. We use sterilized and specialized medical instruments when removing ingrown toenails to minimize risk of infection. We will also ensure the sides of the nail are filed down properly to prevent recurrence of ingrowing. We often attend to patients who developed infected ingrown toenails due to the pedicurist not trimming the nail appropriately and leaving a sharp edge at the side. We will be able to provide permanent long term solutions.

Let our podiatrists help with your ingrown nails!