“How are ingrown toe nails removed?”
What is the treatment for ingrown toe nails? I keep having this problem regularly. What should I do?
9 Answers
FamilyPractitionerIngrownToenail
In my office. We have onyfix which cures ingrown nail with no pain no surgery and no down time.
We numb up the toe in the office and we remove the small edge that keeps getting ingrown. If it happens a lot we recommend that the small edge be removed permanently with a chemical so it does not grow back. This is done very frequently at a podiatrist office.
Your doctor will numb your toe so the ingrown toenail can be removed. At that point, the offending nail border will be removed and a bandage will be placed on your tone. You will be given soaking instructions for the following week to care for the toe after the procedure.
If you get recurring ingrown toe nails, a mild acid can applied to keep the nail from growing again. This is a permanent fix for the problem.
If you get recurring ingrown toe nails, a mild acid can applied to keep the nail from growing again. This is a permanent fix for the problem.
Either rounding edges with Emory board, or podiatrist can cut out a section of nail and use chemical to destroy the area of nail bed in corners to prevent the ingrown nails
Home Care:
If you do not have an infection, you can soak your foot in room-temperature water (adding Epsom salt may be recommended by your doctor) and gently massage the side of the nail fold to help reduce the inflammation. Avoid attempting “bathroom surgery.” Repeated cutting of the nail can cause the condition to worsen over time. If your symptoms fail to improve, it is time to see a foot and ankle surgeon.
Physician Care:
After examining the toe, the foot and ankle surgeon will select the treatment best suited for you. If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed. Sometimes a minor surgical procedure, often performed in the office, will ease the pain and remove the offending nail. After applying a local anesthetic, the doctor removes part of the nail’s side border. Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root. Following the nail procedure, a light bandage will be applied. Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day. If your surgeon has prescribed an oral antibiotic, be sure to take all the medication, even if your symptoms have improved.
Many cases of ingrown toenails may be prevented by:
Proper trimming. Cut toenails in a fairly straight line, and do not cut them too short. You should be able to get your fingernail under the sides and end of the nail. Well-fitting shoes and socks. Do not wear shoes that are short or tight in the toe area. Avoid shoes that are loose because they too cause pressure on the toes, especially when running or walking briskly.
What You Should Know About Home Treatment:
-Do not cut a notch in the nail. Contrary to what some people believe, this does not reduce the tendency for the nail to curve downward.
-Do not repeatedly trim nail borders. Repeated trimming does not change the way the nail grows and can make the condition worse.
-Do not place cotton under the nail. Not only does this not relieve the pain, but it also provides a place for harmful bacteria to grow, resulting in infection.
-Over-the-counter medications are ineffective. Topical medications may mask the pain, but they do not correct the underlying problem.
If you do not have an infection, you can soak your foot in room-temperature water (adding Epsom salt may be recommended by your doctor) and gently massage the side of the nail fold to help reduce the inflammation. Avoid attempting “bathroom surgery.” Repeated cutting of the nail can cause the condition to worsen over time. If your symptoms fail to improve, it is time to see a foot and ankle surgeon.
Physician Care:
After examining the toe, the foot and ankle surgeon will select the treatment best suited for you. If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed. Sometimes a minor surgical procedure, often performed in the office, will ease the pain and remove the offending nail. After applying a local anesthetic, the doctor removes part of the nail’s side border. Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root. Following the nail procedure, a light bandage will be applied. Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day. If your surgeon has prescribed an oral antibiotic, be sure to take all the medication, even if your symptoms have improved.
Many cases of ingrown toenails may be prevented by:
Proper trimming. Cut toenails in a fairly straight line, and do not cut them too short. You should be able to get your fingernail under the sides and end of the nail. Well-fitting shoes and socks. Do not wear shoes that are short or tight in the toe area. Avoid shoes that are loose because they too cause pressure on the toes, especially when running or walking briskly.
What You Should Know About Home Treatment:
-Do not cut a notch in the nail. Contrary to what some people believe, this does not reduce the tendency for the nail to curve downward.
-Do not repeatedly trim nail borders. Repeated trimming does not change the way the nail grows and can make the condition worse.
-Do not place cotton under the nail. Not only does this not relieve the pain, but it also provides a place for harmful bacteria to grow, resulting in infection.
-Over-the-counter medications are ineffective. Topical medications may mask the pain, but they do not correct the underlying problem.
The best treatment is to have them permanently removed by a podiatrist. It is a relatively painless procedure with an easy recovery.
Ingrown toenails are a common problem. This can more than likely be done in the office with local anesthetic. Recovery usually takes a few days. I recommend you contact and foot and ankle specialist (podiatrist) to discuss options
There is a permanent procedure called a Matricectomy to permanently remove the offending ingrown toenails that bother you. You can google the procedure on line and actually watch one on video/YouTube.
If the area is mildly sore soaking in warm salt water for 15 mins should help, If there is pus or pain you should see your podiatrist. The nail corner may need to be removed to drain the pus and decompress the area or a permanent procedure may be performed to stop the corner of the nail from growing back.
