Ingrowing Toenails
An ingrown toenail can occur when a nail has been damaged or is deformed. The nail grows into the skin causing pain and sometimes leading to infection. This condition can be treated conservatively, but surgery may be necessary.
How we can help
At the first sign of soreness, bathe the toe in salt water to avoid infection. Seek help early to avoid infection and the problem getting worse.
If you do have an infection, we can supply you with antibiotics to deal with this.
Your ingrowing toenail may be able to be treated conservatively by removal of the nail spike and treating the underlying cause of the problem, whether this be footwear related or due to the foot structure. Nail that are curved (involuted) respond well to Onyfix®, which is a nail bracing system that flattens out the nail plate and reduces the risk of the nail growing in.
For recurring cases, more permanent nail surgery may be required. This is performed under local anaesthesia. Usually only part of the offending nail is removed, although it is possible to remove the whole nail if it is very damaged. The nail matrix is treated with a chemical so that the problematic part of the nail does not regrow.
