Ingrowing toenails a problem?

At this time of year we tend to see an increase in the number of people complaining about painful ingrowing toe nails. The main reason being we are wearing closed toed shoes more often that may not fit well through the toe box. This places direct pressure on our nails. If your nails already have a tendency to be ingrown or are cut incorrectly, then an inflamed, painful ingrowing toe nail can result.

The shape of our toes can also play a role. If you have a bunion on your big toe that pushes against your smaller toes, the inside edge of your big toe nail or second toe nail can often become ingrown when the toes get squashed together. Tight shoe will make this more problematic.

The shape of our toe nails can change with time and footwear leading to more rounded or "involuted" nails. Involuted nails can also be the natural shape of our toe nails which we inherit from one or both of parents. This generally causes problems with nail cutting at a very early age - you can thank your parents later if you fall into this category. I guess what we are saying is that there are a numbers of causes of ingrowing toe nails but also a number of ways to manage them.

If you shoes a playing a part then it goes with out saying - get fitted for wider, more accommodating footwear. If you toes are rubbing together creating discomfort with your toe nails, a small spacer in between the toes can alleviate this discomfort. Purchase a nail file and decent pair of nail clippers so you can trim and file the nail edges. Leaving a small spike on the nail edge is often the catalyst for an ingrowing nail.

If the problem persists, has become infected or is to painful to handle - we can help. Depending on how tender the nail edge is we can clear and remove the offending piece of nail. This can be done a with a numbing injection if to tender to touch. Packing the nail edge with foam or cotton can help the nail right itself over time and allow the nail to grow out with minimal discomfort. If a more permanent solution is required, we can perform a partial or full nail avulsion. This is performed under a local anesthetic, the sides of the toe nail removed and a chemical called phenol is used to destroy the nail matrix and prevent regrowth of that nail section. This is an effective and permanent fix to your ingrowing nails with a short recovery time. The podiatrists at Base Podiatry are highly skilled at this procedure and are able to advise on the most suitable management plan for you. Whether that be more conservative or a more permanent surgical option. That will depend on the likelihood of the problem reoccurring or if it is the first time this has occurred.

If your toe nails are painful, inflamed, ingrowing and tender with shoes on, contact one of the Base Podiatry clinics. We provide effective treatment to end the pain of your ingrowing nails.

Base Podiatry Offices are in: