An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin. The nail curls and pierces the skin, which becomes red, swollen and tender.

The big toe is often affected, either on one or both sides. Other possible symptoms include:

  • pain if pressure is placed on the toe
  • inflammation of the skin at the end of the toe
  • a build-up of fluid in the area surrounding the toe
  • an overgrowth of skin around the affected toe
  • bleeding
  • white or yellow pus coming from the affected area

It results from short cutting of nails, wearing tight tapering shoes, trauma etc.

Treatment

Treatment of secondary infection if pus is formed with local and oral antibiotics.

Surgical treatment- only partial removal of ingrown toenail with chemical (phenol) application to corner of nail matrix so that it doesn’t recur.

Most of the times patients visit surgeon for ingrown toenail and treatment commonly offered is complete removal of nail which is not needed and also is not a right treatment. It doesn’t solve the problem, ingrown toe nail will recur and patient goes through lot of pain and repeated dressings and visits to hospital.

Ideal treatment is partial nail avulsion- removing only ingrown part of nail and followed by application of phenol to corner of nail matrix so that, the ingrown corner doesn’t grow again and ingrown toe nail wont recur. This method called partial nail avulsion with phenolisation is the treatment of choice for ingrown toe nail.  This method has very less down time, less painful, heals fast and most importantly, it treats issue more scientifically and prevents recurrence of problem if patient takes post procedure care and follow instructions like avoiding short cutting of nails, using broad shoes etc.

So if you are suffering from ingrown toenail, visit a dermatologist and get it treated with partial nail avulsion with phenolisation method. This will help you to solve issue permanently and reduce the pain of surgery and cost of treatment too.