Ingrowing toenails

If you have an ingrowing toenail you will be experiencing pain and discomfort which will not improve without treatment.

Ingrowing toenails are very common and occur when the toenail starts to grow into the skin surrounding it. Causes of ingrowing toenails are often ill-fitting shoes, poor hygiene and nail shape, and are most common in teenagers. People who play a lot of sport and keep fit are often more prone to ingrown toenails as excess sweat is also a factor in the growth of ingrown nails. In some instances medication can trigger ingrowing nail growth.

It is easier to treat this condition at an early stage than to let it develop. The first indication of an ingrowing nail is the skin around the nail becoming painful and inflamed. If the nail is left untreated it is likely to infect the toe, resulting in antibiotic treatment. 

Ingrowing nails are treated physically by either training the nail to grow out from the skin, or cutting the nail and encouraging normal regrowth. Treatment may involve removing a piece of nail, sometimes carried out with a local anaesthetic, if some of the nail has be permanently removed to make the nail narrower.