Book an appointment today, and our podiatrists will be able to assess, diagnose and treat your ingrown toenail using the most appropriate methods.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment
If ingrown toenails are having a negative impact on your lifestyle choices, MyFootMedic can help. Our professional podiatrists can help you find a solution to ingrowing toenails that reduces pain and discomfort. Book a face to face or video appointment to discuss your treatment options.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail is a common problem caused by the nail growing into the skin around it. The digging in effect caused by the nail can result in redness, pain and swelling.
If the skin becomes broken, bacteria can then enter the wound and cause an infection. You may experience fever-like symptoms, and you may notice a green or yellow pus-like fluid oozing out of the nail.
Any nail that curves downwards and into the skin can cause an infection, so inspect your toenails regularly and book an appointment with MyFootMedic if you notice signs of infection.
For healthy feet, check them weekly and book an appointment with MyFootMedic if you’re worried that you’ve developed an ingrown toenail.
WHAT CAUSES AN INGROWN TOENAIL?
Ingrown toenails can be caused by:
- Badly cut toenails that are too short
- Tight-fitting shoes, tights or socks that put pressure on the toes
- Injury to the nail like stubbing a toe or repeatedly kicking a ball
- Fungal infections
- Losing a nail through trauma
- Genetics
There are three types of ingrown toenail:
- An acute ingrowing toenail pierces the skin, which can result in tissue overgrowth and infection.
- An ingrown nail is usually the result of trauma or the nail being badly cut.
- A chronic ingrown toenail will usually have thickened and changed shape over the years.
Even if your ingrown toenail isn’t causing you problems at the moment, it may become infected over time. Our specialist podiatrists can assess, diagnose and propose the most effective treatments.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment
At MyFootMedic, we can propose a range of treatments for ingrowing toenails that will deal with the problem in the most pain-free and least intrusive way. If you’re wondering what the cost of ingrown toenail surgery is, book an appointment at our Bedford clinic, and our footcare experts will talk through the following options with you.
Preventative treatment
Our extensive range of podiatry services is designed to spot problems early and prevent ingrown toenails from becoming an issue.
A foot health check will help our podiatrists to assess and diagnose signs of an ingrown toenail.
We'll demonstrate the proper nail cutting techniques to help prevent ingrown toenails. Your foot care specialist will cut your nails correctly, and may remove a build-up of hard skin from the side of the nails to reduce the risk of any future problems.
Your podiatrist will develop a personalised foot care plan, including advice on foot hygiene and wearing correctly sized shoes, socks and tights.
Mild cases of ingrown toenail
For mild cases of an ingrown toenail, we recommend the following treatment plan:
Reshaping of the nails: This technique will help to reshape the part of the nail that becomes ingrown, preventing the need for further intervention.
Nail resection: During this procedure, a small piece of the edge of the nail is removed. This intervention is used to reduce pressure on the skin when an ingrown toenail is mild, and there's no problem with the base of the nail. A nail resection can be performed with or without a local anaesthetic.
Foot and nail care: your podiatrist will run you through a simple foot and nail care routine that can help to prevent a recurrence of the ingrown toenail. Your personalised plan includes nail cutting techniques and general advice on looking after your feet and toenails.
Serious or recurring cases
Ingrown toenails can become a recurrent problem that reduces your quality of life. If that’s the case, we offer a complete treatment plan that deals with infection and stubborn ingrown nails.
Toenail surgery removes all or part of the nail under a local anaesthetic. This procedure may be necessary if the nail is badly infected or the nail plate is too broad.
This procedure is recommended when nail thickening or damage causes recurring problems that a nail resection or other treatment can’t fix. After the nail is removed, your podiatrist will treat the nail bed with phenol, a mild acid, to prevent nail regrowth.
A partial nail avulsion produces a more natural result with only a section of the nail removed. In severe cases, we may recommend removing the entire nail to prevent the problem from recurring.
You may also be given prescription medicines for infection. Your Podiatrist will want to ensure that the infection is clearing, and the toe is healing properly.
This treatment has a fast recovery time and an extremely high success rate, allowing you to start living your life free of the pain of ingrown toenails.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Bedford with MyFootMedic
At MyFootMedic, we’ll help you to find the proper treatment for your ingrown toenail. Our highly trained podiatrists treat a full range of common conditions from routine foot care and health checks to specialist care and toenail surgery.
If an ingrown toenail negatively affects your quality of life, book an appointment today, and our podiatry team will suggest the appropriate treatment for you.
Whether you are a new patient or a regular, you will be advised of our prices and no treatment will be undertaken without your prior consent.
