Solutions for Ingrown Toenails – Locke Minor Foot Surgery and Orthotics

We get it. Dealing with ingrown toenails can be both painful and frustrating, affecting your daily activities and overall comfort. 

At Locke Minor Foot Surgery and Orthotics, we understand the challenges posed by ingrown toenails, and we’re committed to providing multiple solutions that prioritize your comfort and well-being. While our name may include “foot surgery,” we believe in exploring all treatment options before considering surgical intervention.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails: 

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to pain, inflammation, and potential infection. Causes may include improper nail trimming, tight-fitting footwear, trauma, or inherited nail shape. Symptoms often include tenderness, redness, swelling, and sometimes drainage.

Treatment Options:

When you visit Locke Minor Foot Surgery and Orthotics, our experienced chiropodists will conduct a thorough assessment to diagnose your ingrown toenail and discuss various treatment options tailored to your needs. These may include:

• Conservative Management: Despite our name including “foot surgery,” we prioritize conservative, non-invasive approaches whenever possible. We believe in exploring conservative treatments such as precision scalpel nail resection, padding, and antibiotic therapy before considering surgical intervention.
• Partial Nail Avulsion: This minor surgical procedure involves permanently removing the portion of the toenail that is ingrown, providing immediate relief and preventing recurrence. We may recommend partial nail avulsion for cases where only one side or both sides of the nail are affected.
• Nail Thinning: In some instances, we may opt for nail thinning, where we carefully thin either one side or both sides of the nail to alleviate pressure and discomfort without complete removal.

Preventing Ingrown Toenails: 

Prevention is key to avoiding the discomfort of ingrown toenails. Here are some tips to help prevent their occurrence:

• Avoid digging into the corners of your nail at home – when you use a standard nail clipper you will likely leave a nail spike that will dig into the skin and cause a nail infection
• Wear properly fitting footwear with sufficient toe room.
• Practice good foot hygiene, keeping toenails clean and dry.
• Avoid picking or tearing at toenails, as this can increase the risk of ingrown toenails and infection.

At Locke Minor Foot Surgery and Orthotics, we understand the impact that ingrown toenails can have on your quality of life. Whether through conservative management, partial nail avulsion, or nail thinning. 

Don’t let ingrown toenails disrupt your daily activities any longer. 

Book online here or call us at 289-269-1018 to book!