An ingrown toenail can be a painful and persistent issue due to nail shape and structure, due to damage from incorrect cutting, pressure from footwear and sports or trauma (like dropping something on it or being stepped on).
How do you know you have an ingrown toenail?
- Pain around the toe (often a 'sharp or piercing' sensation)
- Redness and swelling of the toe
- Peeling skin around the swollen area
- The toe becomes very hard and painful to touch
- Pain with pressure (even the duvet!)
- Signs of pus or 'liquid' oozing from the side of the nail
What to do?
Don't ignore your painful toe! These can become extremely infected very quickly and cause long term issues!
- Bath/wash the toe in salt water. Use like warm water and a few pinches of salt to clean the area.
- Keep the area dry and clean
- Avoid applying creams or plasters that might make the area more 'soggy'
- An anti-sceptic spray for the skin could be beneficial
- Avoid excess pressures from footwear and sport (they will make it worse!)
- Book a Podiatry appointment ASAP! Unless the nail spike is removed, the issue will remain! Taking antibiotics alone will only temporarily reduce your infection.
Unfortunately these cannot always be fixed my simply cutting the offending 'spike' out or taking antibiotics. This is often due to how the nail grows from the base, causing it to 'involute' (this is where the nail starts to curve into the skin causing pain, and possible open lesions which may lead to infection).
To ensure that this does not continue to be an issue, we can remove a portion of the nail or the entire nail using local anaesthetic. A chemical called phenol is then used on the nail bed to prevent the nail from growing back. This usually takes 4 - 6 weeks to heal dependant on your general health and the amount of infection present in the area prior to surgery. A small dressing will need to be worn during the healing process, but otherwise it should not impede your daily life.
Please note that all potential nail surgery patients must be seen for an initial assessment prior to booking the nail surgery. This is to ensure you are a suitable candidate for the nail surgery and so we can discuss your individual case to tailor the treatment to your needs as much as possible.
Nail surgery prices start from £285 (including two post operative check ups).
Book an Initial Podiatry Consultation today for immediate relief from a painful ingrown toenail and long term management options (Initial consultation is £52).
Book online: (Podiatry Initial Consultation): https://www.henleypodiatry.com/book-online-1
Telephone: 01491 260320
Email: info@henleypodiatry.com