Andreassi A, Grimaldi L, D'Aniello C, et al. Segmental phenolization for the treatment of ingrowing toenails. J Dermatolog Treat. 2004;15(3):179-181. Cutting toenails incorrectly, too short, especially around the edges which can encourage the nail to grow into the skin. After the nail has been removed, examine the lateral sulcus beneath the proximal nail fold to ensure no pieces of nail remain within the corner. Also examine the part of the nail removed. If part of the nail plate is missing, it must be identified and removed, or it will heal slowly and cause pain.

Activate the electrode for 3 to 10 seconds. A short sizzling sound may be heard, and a small puff of smoke may be seen. 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

Frequently Asked Questions

You should see a podiatrist urgently if you have symptoms of infection, and also have diabetes, poor circulation or a reduced immune system. You should also visit a podiatrist if you experience any persistent pain in your toe from the ingrowing nail or have a condition that affects the nerves and/or feeling in your foot. Espensen EH, Nixon BP, Armstrong DG. Chemical matrixectomy for ingrown toenails. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002;92(5):287-295. With an estimated 10,000 new cases* in the UK each year, ingrown toenail is very common. It develops when the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin – causing redness, inflammation and in severe cases can sometimes leading to a localised infection. Rigopoulos D, Larios G, Gregoriou S, et al. Acute and chronic paronychia. Am Fam Physician. 2008;77(3):339-346. Di Chiacchio N, Di Chiacchio NG. Best way to treat an ingrown toenail. Dermatol Clin. 2015;33(2):277-282.

Yang KC, Li YT. Treatment of recurrent ingrown great toenail associated with granulation tissue by partial nail avulsion followed by matricectomy with sharpulse carbon dioxide laser. Dermatol Surg. 2002;28(5):419-421. Gerritsma-Bleeker CL, Klaase JM, Geelkerken RH, et al. Partial matrix excision or segmental phenolization for ingrowing toenails. Arch Surg. 2002;137(3):320-325. An ingrowing toenail typically affects teenagers and young adults the most. A number of things can cause an ingrowing toenail to develop and if left untreated, could pierce the skin. Before you are seen by a podiatrist, you can relieve the discomfort by bathing your foot in a salty footbath which helps to prevent infection and reduces inflammation. Then apply a clean sterile dressing, especially if you have a discharge, and rest your foot as much as possible.Mayeaux EJ. Nail avulsion and matrixectomy. In: Mayeaux EJ, ed. The Essential Guide to Primary Care Procedures. 2nd ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2015:534–556. High WA, et al., eds. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.

Please see a healthcare professional if home treatments are not helping, if the toe is very painful, bleeding or infected and if you have a high temperature.Byrne DS, Caldwell D. Phenol cauterization for ingrowing toenails: a review of five years' experience. Br J Surg. 1989;76(6):598-599. Placing a gutter splint under the nail. With this method, your health care provider numbs the toe and slips a tiny slit tube underneath the embedded nail. This splint stays in place until the nail has grown above the skin edge. This method helps ease the pain of an ingrown nail as well. Now that we’ve entered sandal season and are getting reacquainted with our bare feet, the issue of unsightly and painful ingrown toenails feels especially pertinent. Ingrowns occur when the corner of the nail (usually on the big toe) begins to grow into the skin, causing inflammation, pain, and potentially infection. As podiatrist Dr. Ernest L. Isaacson says, “If you think you have an ingrown nail, you’re probably right.”