The Painful Ingrown Nail, what is the solution?

Ingrown nails are one of the most common reasons that people may want to visit the podiatrist for. They occur when the nail bed grows into the side of the skin, causing pain, swelling, inflammation and sometimes an infection. Ingrown nails can be a recurring problem, but there is treatment and a permanent solution to them!

What can cause an Ingrown nail?

Ingrown nails may have multiple causes, some include:

• Tight fitting footwear such as high heels or narrow shoes which can cause pressure on the toe

• Hereditary causes

• Trauma and injury to the toe

• Poor nail cutting technique

• Nail shape and increased skin thickness

• Certain medications

What are the risks of an ingrown nail if left untreated?

• Infection of the soft tissue and/or bone

• Hypergranulation tissue which is the excess skin and tissue that forms when an ingrown is left untreated and becomes moderate/severe.

• If Diabetes, risk of necrosis and ulceration is also possible.

What is the treatment for an ingrown nail?

If you have an ingrown nail, it is best to come see a podiatrist at our clinic for treatment, avoid treating the ingrown nail at home as this may pose risk for infection and possibly make the ingrown worse.

1. Ingrown nail treatment can either be conservative if the ingrown is mild to moderate. The ingrown can be removed during a skin and nail consultation if it is mild to moderate. However, there is always a risk of recurrence.

2. If the ingrown is recurring and/or it is severe, a Partial Nail Avulsion, also known as "ingrown nail surgery" can be performed. A Partial Nail Avulsion surgery is the removal of the ingrown portion of the nail under local anaesthetic. The ingrown part of the nail is then cauterised with a chemical so that the ingrown does not recur, there is still a small chance of recurrence (between 5-7%). Once the PNA is performed, the podiatrist will apply a dressing to the toe and follow up in a week to check on the nail and re-dress it.
   

How will the nail look after a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) surgical procedure?

Depending on the severity of the ingrown nail, whether there was infection or excess tissue, after removal of an ingrown through a PNA procedure, the appearance of the nail is maintained as much as possible. In most cases, the nail looks normal and healthy. Results may vary. Below is an example of a before and after a PNA procedure.

If you have an ingrown, you may book an appointment with our podiatrist for assessment and treatment.