Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails are a common and frustrating injury. Often they are caused by improper footwear not allowing the nail to grow properly, or due to poor nail cutting resulting in overgrowth in a particular direction.
Signs & Symptoms
- Pain with tenderness when applying gentle pressure to the area at the side of the nail.
- Redness.
- Swelling.
- Infection (sometimes).
- Evidence of an incorrectly placed nail.
Treatment for an Ingrown Toenail
- In most cases, it is sufficient to soak the toe in warm salt water 3-4 times a day.
- If your toe is infected, you have diabetes or you have unusually bad foot circulation, go to the doctor immediately.
- When trimming your nails, cut straight across. Do not round the corners.
- Do not attempt to cut out the ingrowth yourself.
- A Chiropodist or Podiatrist will usually elevate the troublesome section of nail, make a V-shaped cut and attempt to stretch the surrounding soft tissue with a cotton bud.
- Surgery is sometimes used in very severe cases to remove the nail border. The nail matrix is then treated with Phenol to prevent re-growth.
