A Solution for Ingrown Toenails

Do you often get ingrown toenails, and wonder if they are the result of improperly cutting them?

The answer is no; there are many reasons why you may develop an ingrown toenail, the most common of which is an inherited shape of the nail plate. Just as you inherit the color of your eyes and hair from your parents, you also inherit the shape of your nails. Nails can also change shape after an acute injury to the toe, from repetitive chronic shoe irritation, or after a fungal infection.

Once a nail is ingrown, it will not go back to it's original shape regardless of how many times you tear the edges out or cut a "V" in the center of the nail. Since the shape of the nail is determined by the shape of its matrix (root), there is no "bathroom surgery" that will permanently correct this problem. Many people are able to manage this condition with careful regular trimmings; however, the acute symptoms of pain, redness, swelling and drainage usually occur at the most inopportune time; before an important athletic event, dance recital or a vacation. This condition can become especially urgent for diabetic patients as it can lead to cellulitis (an infection spreading into the foot) if left untreated.

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The good news is, you do not have to suffer with this nagging condition for the rest of your life! There is a corrective procedure available that can permanently change the shape of the nail plate to prevent recurrence of ingrown toenails. This Permanent Nail Correction is typically an outpatient procedure, done in the office under local anesthesia, and it is a wonderful treatment option for patients suffering from chronic ingrown toenails. 

The procedure involves removing the offending nail border down to the level of the matrix and applying medication on the exposed matrix to prevent regrowth of that piece of the nail plate. The post-op care involves twice daily bandage changes for the first week, followed by daily bandage changes until the site is healed at about 2-3 weeks. Patients are usually able to resume their normal daily activities the following day, but may need to curtail exercise activities during the first week. A follow up appointment is scheduled at two weeks to evaluate the healing of the surgical site and to provide additional instructions.

If annoying and painful ingrown toenails are a common occurrence for you, consider discussing a Permanent Nail Correction with your podiatrist!