This article was co-authored by Mark Co, DPM. Dr. Mark Co is a Podiatrist who runs his own private practice in San Francisco, California. Dr. Co specializes in treatments for bunions, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, warts, plantar fasciitis and other causes of foot pain. He also offers custom orthotics for the treatment and prevention of foot and ankle issues. Dr. Co completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at New York University and an MA in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Co also completed his DPM at the California School of Podiatric Medicine and a residency and internship at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Clara, California. Dr. Co was awarded San Francisco's "Top 3 Podiatrists" in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Dr. Co is also a member of the CPMA (American Podiatric Medical Association). This is not a diagnostic tool. this healthcare professional does not endorse Scholl products and were paid by the makers of Scholl for their time in producing this video What is ingrowing toenail? For the most basic painful and irritable ingrowing toenail, the offending spike of nail will be removed and the toe covered with an antiseptic dressing For involuted nails, part of the nail that is curling into the flesh is removed and then the edges of the nail are filed to a smooth surface If you experience any foot care issues that do not resolve themselves naturally or through routine foot care within three weeks, you should seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Partial nail avulsion removes part of your toenail and is the most commonly used operation for treating ingrown toenails. It’s about 98% effective.There are many genetic factors that can make you prone to ingrowing toenails, including your posture (the way you stand), your gait (the way you walk) and any foot deformity such as a bunion, hammer toes or excessive pronation of the feet (when your foot rolls inward excessively). Your nails may also have a natural tendency to splay or curl out instead of growing straight, encouraging your nail to grow outwards or inwards into the flesh. However, not everyone identifies an ingrowing toenail correctly. Sometimes, they have a curly nail which has a lot of debris (dirt or fluff) underneath it or a corn or callus down the side of the nail, which can be just as painful. However, if it’s a corn, you tend to experience a throbbing pain as opposed to the sharp pain you get with an ingrowing toenail. If this is the case, your podiatrist will remove the debris, and, if necessary, thin the nail. Is it serious?

Finally, your doctor will typically apply a bandage covered with petroleum jelly to your toe. Does it hurt?

Other Products in this Category

Ingrown toenail home treatment includes several simple steps. These steps can help manage the infection and prevent further ingrown toenail pain. Put a piece of a cotton ball or dental floss under the ingrown edge of your toenail. This may help it grow out properly. Take the cotton or floss out if it makes your pain worse or you see any signs of infection, such as pus. Most of the time, healthcare providers can treat mild ingrown toenails using the same techniques you would at home. But they use sterile and more professional instrumentation. This foot condition usually heals without surgery. gently push the skin away from the nail using a cotton bud (this may be easier after using a small amount of olive oil to soften the skin)