What is it?
- Onychocryptosis (ingrowing nail) is a very common nail disorder
- A large number of our patients attend our clinic for this very reason as we are highly specialized in this area. Our podiatrists have university lectured and tutored in this exact condition for three years
- Our podiatrists have university lectured and tutored ingrown toenail surgery for 3 years
- It is very painful, can show inflammation, pus and redness
- The end of the nail ‘digs into’ the skin
What causes it?
- Poor nail cutting technique
- Involuted / curved nail
- Previous ingrown nail
- A section of the nail is ‘spiked’ into the skin
- Ripped nail
- Sports where there is fast stopping e.g. tennis
- Footwear
- High heels
- Pointed toe footwear
- Stockings
- Genetics
- Nail disease or trauma
How do I fix it?
- Make an appointment with Amy or Louise at Barefeet Podiatry
- Not often a person can fix this problem themselves, if the spike is removed by themselves, then the condition is likely to recur within a couple of months as the nail is usually ripped and another nail spike is created
Will it go away by itself?
- Essentially NO, the nail must be cut correctly to remove the nail ‘spike’
Will it hurt?
- Majority of the time NO, however this depends on how infected or inflamed the toe is
- At Barefeet Podiatry we are extremely gentle and effective due to our expertise in this area
Can a GP fix it?
- It is best for a podiatrist to fix the problem as they are the specialist in lower limb and foot disorders
- Podiatrists have the correct instruments to fix an ingrowing toenail, rather than a GP
- Sometimes GP’s will give antibiotics to combat the infection of the ingrowing toenail, however this only treats the symptoms not the cause
What happens after I see the podiatrist?
- During the treatment, the nail will be correctly cut and therefore it is unlikely to recur, however if later down the track DIY podiatry has caused another ingrown toenail, we are here to fix it!
Do I need surgery?
- If the problem persists, then surgery is always an option
- Don’t worry, at Barefeet Podiatry we have taught university undergraduates and post graduates toe nail surgery for three years
- The surgery is virtually painless due to local anaesthesia (the needles are so thin and tiny they are practically painless- amazing!)
- In most cases surgery is always a last option and will not be performed on your first visit