Ingrown toenails hurt! There is no disputing that fact. An ingrown toenail is caused from the toenail growing into the side of the skin (nail fold) of the toe. You can experience an ingrown toenail on any toe but usually the big toes are the most common. Wearing tight shoes can worsening this condition and cause more inflammation at the ingrown nail.
There is not a specific cause for the ingrown nail, it is simply the nail has started to grow in a more curved nature causing the problem. I will often see patients that have been dealing with the ingrown nail for months. They may have been performing soaks and taking antibiotics but can never fully resolve the pain or inflammation. If the nail is not removed from the skin, then bacteria will continue to cause an infection which we call a paronychia.
Treatment Options
There are a few different treatment options which we discuss at your appointment. Sometimes the ingrown nail is mild, so I can demonstrate nail cutting techniques that can prevent worsening of the ingrown. If the you have tried these techniques, or the ingrown nail is too severe, then we can remove a small piece of the ingrown nail in the office. This procedure is simple and only takes about 5 minutes to perform.
I have attached pictures of a recent ingrown nail procedure which I performed in the office. The toe was quite infected and severely painful. One week after the procedure the toe is much less inflamed and the patient had no pain. Schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Berthelsen, at my Vista office and we will find you relief from that ingrown toenail!