Ingrown Toenails
What are ingrown toenails?
The nail is 'in-growing' when the side of the nail cuts into the skin next to the nail. The skin may also become infected or inflamed. Any toe can be affected, but the big toes are affected most commonly. Tight fitting shoes may be a cause in some cases. It is also more common in people who cut their toenails very short and 'round'. The correct way of cutting nails is 'straight across'. This helps the nail to grow normally and may prevent ingrowing toenails from developing.
Treatment
An initial assessment with treatment using sterile instruments is the first approach - the nail edge is cut away and filed - this in many cases will be enough to alleviate and prevent the nail from becoming infected.
If the nail is already infected and the nail too painful to treat in this way, we will administer a local anaesthetic. The nail can then be treated with a chemical to prevent the offending nail portion from growing and causing the problem again in the future. This is a permanent procedure and only undertaken with advisement.
Chiropody Treatment