Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails, or onychocryptosis, are one of the most common foot problems chiropodists treat. They can also be one of the most painful foot conditions. An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail is growing into the surrounding tissue, causing inflammation, redness, and swelling of the tissue. This painful condition can lead to infection if left untreated and cause further problems for the patient.

Those suffering from diabetes or who have poor circulation to their feet must see a chiropodist for professional treatment of ingrown toenails. At Collective Foot & Orthotic Clinic, we specialize in ingrown nails and can help you safely treat them to prevent additional health issues.

Causes and Prevention

There are many causes of ingrown toenails, including:

  • Improper nail cutting

  • Tight fitting shoes or socks

  • Abnormal shape of the nail plate

  • Trauma to the nail plate or toe

  • Sport footwear

  • Pronation (the foot rolling in)

Many of these causes of ingrown toenails are preventable, such as wearing properly fitting footwear and avoiding trauma to the toes. Cutting toenails straight across using nail clippers, not scissors, is also important for controlling how your toenails grow. If you suffer from excessive pronation, wearing custom foot orthotics is key in limiting the inward rolling of your feet and causing ingrown toenails. With these measures, preventing ingrown toenails can be very simple.

If an ingrown toenail develops, it’s necessary to have it treated as soon as possible by a chiropodist to avoid infection. If an infection occurs, it can easily spread to the bloodstream and cause severe problems for the patient. Other complications from an untreated ingrown toenail include the loss of the nail plate, deformity of the nail plate and tissue, scarring of the nail fold, and severe inflammation and pain around the nail bed. All these complications can lead to difficulty wearing shoes and participating in normal activities.

Treatment

Sometimes, prevention methods are just not enough to stop ingrown toenails from occurring or returning. This is where ingrown toenail removal surgery comes in! Depending on your needs and the frequency of your ingrown toenails, a different procedure might be right for you.

We perform nail spicule removal to provide relief from an ingrown toenail. In this procedure, local anesthetic is used to numb the area while the necessary nail, or spicule (piece of nail that is growing into the skin), is removed. A follow-up appointment is usually made after this procedure to assess for any infection or unusual growths in the skin. However, caught fast, these infections are easily treated with antibiotics.

In some cases, we can also perform surgical procedures to permanently prevent regrowth of the toenail. This surgery is best for patients who regularly suffer from ingrown toenails and are seeking a permanent solution. In this surgery, a small portion along the side of the toenail is completely removed and is treated with a special chemical to disallow for regrowth. After surgery, the nail will be slightly narrower, but will appear normal (and ingrown free!). A follow-up appointment is included in this surgery as well in order to ensure proper healing.

An Initial Assessment with the Chiropodist can help you determine which of these procedures are necessary and, if needed, can often be performed the same day of the assessment. The whole procedure takes 30-45 minutes to complete.

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If you’re suffering from an ingrown toenail, contact Collective Foot & Orthotic Clinic. We can help you manage and prevent them.

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