Do and Dont's of Ingrown Toenails

Many types of doctors can help with ingrown toenails. Family physicians, pediatricians, urgent-care or walk-in physicians, dermatologists, and podiatrists are among the medical professionals who commonly treat this condition. Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle disorders, including ingrown toenails. Dermatologists specialize in the treatment of skin, hair, and nail disorders.

How are ingrown toenails treated?

Mild ingrown toenails may be treated with conservative measures like warm daily soaks, avoidance of tight or ill-fitting shoes, elevating the foot, topical antibiotics like Neosporin, and gently pushing back the piece of overgrown skin away from the nail.
More advanced ingrown toenails may be treated with oral antibiotics. Resistant or recurrent cases of ingrown toenails may require minor in-office procedures by the physician. Surgical procedures aim to remove the embedded nail away from the toe tissue. In some cases, the side 1/3 strip of nail is surgically removed using local anesthesia (numbing). Surgical procedures often require prolonged healing, local soaks, and wound care to prevent further infections during the healing phase.
What types of nail surgery is used for ingrown toenails? Fewer ingrown toenails may require simply cut back splinters protruding nail or a piece away from the nail fold. More aggressive, debilitating cases may require a minor surgical procedure known as partial matricectomy nails. Surgery should be considered a last resort, after conservative treatment failed. Nail surgery can cause permanent nail deformity, poor aesthetic appearance, and other possible complications.Matricectomy is the process of surgically, chemically, or electrically destroying all or part of the base nail portion called the nail matrix. Complete destruction of the nail matrix results in permanent loss of that portion of the nail. Once the nail matrix is fully removed or destroyed, a new nail plate cannot ever be regenerated. This surgical procedure is commonly curative for recurrent cases of ingrown toenails. Often, only the lateral (side) 1/3 or 1/4 of the affected nail is removed in matricectomy. Much less commonly, both sides of the nail matrix are removed (bilateral matricectomy) or the entire nail matrix is removed (complete matricectomy).
* Wear wide-toed shoes. * Do not avoid the recurrence of a foot injury. * Does not protect your toes during sports activities. * Do not cut nails in a curved pattern. * No overcut nails at the edges. * Do not wear tight shoes or poor conditioning. * Do not let an infection go too long nails. * Do not try to do surgery at home or remove a nail embedded. * Failure to maintain good foot hygiene. * Do not cut the nail straight. * Keep your nails clean and trim.