An ingrown toenail is when part of the toenail grows into the sides of the skin of the toe. This causes swelling, pain, and in some cases, infection on the toe. For a minor case of ingrown toenail, people usually go to salons to have it simply cut away. Some people cut and remove the ingrown nail on their own. But for more serious cases, like when it is infected, or for people who get it repeatedly, the best solution is to visit a podiatrist. There are a few surgical procedures that can treat or remove an ingrown toenail. The right one depends on the location and the severity of the ingrown nail.
A standard ingrown toenail removal procedure involves removing the part of the nail that is growing into the skin. The part of the nail bed that grows the ingrown nail will be destroyed to make sure that it doesn’t come back. After this procedure, the affected toe will be sensitive and need time to recover. Make sure to follow aftercare so that your toe heals properly.
Aftercare:
- Give your feet plenty of rest. For the first 2 days after the surgery, rest your foot and limit activity to avoid putting pressure on the toe.
- Keep the foot elevated to reduce swelling.
- Follow closely wound care and follow-up instructions given by your doctor.
- After 24 hours, the toe can be kept clean by running soapy water over it, then pat it dry.
- Keep the toe covered with a non-stick dressing until it is fully healed
- If necessary, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers
- The doctor may also prescribe you oral antibiotics if the toenail was already infected.
- You may also apply antibiotic ointment to soothe your toe. It can also help it heal faster.
- Wear open-toed or loose-fitting footwear for about 2 weeks after the surgery. This gives room for your toe to heal.
- You may return to normal activities after a few days, but avoid strenuous activity for about 2 weeks.
If you have an ingrown toenail, it is important to consult with a podiatrist. Do not try to remove the ingrown toenail yourself or go to a salon. Going to a doctor for an ingrown toenail removal lowers the chances of getting an infection. You can also pt to have it removed permanently.
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