Ingrown Toenail Treatment St. Louis, MO

Ingrown toenails are due to the penetration of the edges of the nail plate into the soft tissue of the toe.

It begins with a painful irritation that often becomes infected. With bacterial invasion, the nail margin becomes red and swollen often demonstrating drainage or pus. In people who have diabetes or poor circulation, this relatively minor problem can be become quite severe. In this instance, a simple ingrown toenail can result in gangrene of the toe.

Patients with joint replacements or pace makers are at risk of bacterial spread through the bloodstream resulting in the spread of infection to these sites. These patients should seek medical attention at the earliest sign of an ingrown toenail.

Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails can be caused by many factors, but the most common are:

  • Hereditary tendency to form ingrown toenails
  • Improperly cutting the toenails; either too short, or cutting into the side of the nail
  • Ill-fitting shoes
  • Children will often develop ingrown toenails as a result of peeling or tearing their toenails off instead of trimming them with a nail clipper

Once an ingrown toenail starts, they will often recur. Many people perform “bathroom” surgery to cut the nail margin out only to have it recur months later as the nail grows out.

Ingrown Toenail Treatment

Treatment for ingrown toenails is relatively painless. The injection to numb the toe may hurt some, but a skilled doctor has techniques to minimize this discomfort. Once the toe is numb, the nail margin is removed and the nail root in this area is destroyed. Most commonly, the doctor will use an acid to kill the root of the nail, but other techniques are also available. It may take a few weeks for the nail margin to completely heal, but there are generally no restrictions in activity, bathing, or wearing shoes. Once the numbness wears off, there may be some very mild discomfort but rarely does this require pain medicine. A resumption of sports activities and exercise is generally permitted the following day.

There are very few complications associated with this procedure. Reoccurrence of the ingrown toenail can occur a small percentage of the time. Continuation of the infection is possible which can be controlled easily with oral antibiotics. On occasion, the remaining nail may become loose from the nail bed and fall off. A new nail will grow out to replace it over several months. With the removal of the nail margin, the nail will be narrower and this should be expected.

To prevent ingrown toenails it is recommended to wear properly fitting shoes and to trim the toenails straight across and not too short.

Contact Missouri Foot & Ankle to learn how we can help with your foot, ankle, and toe problems!