An Ingrown Toenail (IGTN) usually starts small. A bit of tenderness at the edge of the nail, a niggle when you put your shoes on, a sore spot you only notice when you’re walking. It’s easy enough to brush off at first. But once the nail starts pressing into the surrounding skin, it may not settle on its own, and that minor annoyance can gradually become much more painful.
Not every ingrown toenail needs the same treatment. Some get relief with conservative care, some might need a non-surgical correction like Onyfix, and some may benefit from nail surgery. So the real question is which kind is yours, how do you know when to see an experienced podiatrist, and what treatment options are available.
How An Ingrown Toenail Progresses?
An ingrown toenail rarely goes from fine to awful overnight. It develops gradually. Early on, you might just feel the tenderness down one side of the nail, with the skin looking a bit red or puffy after a day in tight shoes. If the nail keeps pushing in, the area gets more inflamed, walking starts to bother you, and even the weight of a sock can make you wince.
Left to carry on, the skin can become increasingly irritated and may break down. This is when the nail can become an infected ingrown toenail, with signs such as warmth, throbbing pain, increased redness and sometimes discharge. If you notice these changes, it’s a problem that shouldn’t be ignored.
Why Does An Ingrown Toenail Keep Coming Back?
Here’s the frustrating bit. Treating the painful edge doesn’t always address why the nail became ingrown in the first place. For some people, it’s simply the shape of the nail. A nail that curves deeply at the sides can place ongoing pressure on the surrounding skin as it grows, meaning the problem may return after the immediate irritation has settled.
For others, the nail may have changed shape following an injury or infection. Footwear can play a part too, and so can cutting deeply into the corner of the nail to try to relieve the pressure. This may provide temporary relief, but the problem can return as the nail grows back.
That’s why treating a recurring ingrown toenail is about more than dealing with the painful area on the day. It’s also important to consider the shape of the nail, the way it is growing and the factors that may be putting pressure on it.
Can The Ingrown Toenail Get Better On Its Own?
Sometimes, yes. A mild ingrown toenail may settle if you reduce pressure on the toe, wear roomier shoes and avoid picking at or cutting into the affected area. The catch is that not every ingrown toenail settles without treatment. If the nail continues to grow into the skin, the problem may persist or gradually become more painful.
And if you’ve fallen into the “cut the corner out” routine, that can become a cycle: quick relief, regrowth, and then the same problem all over again. When you keep dealing with the same painful area of the same toenail, it’s usually worth having the nail assessed by a podiatrist rather than repeatedly treating each flare-up yourself.
When Should You See A Podiatrist?
You don’t need to wait until an ingrown toenail becomes unbearable to get advice. Knowing when to see a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail can help you deal with the problem before it becomes more painful or starts affecting your everyday activities.
It’s worth booking an appointment if the same toenail keeps becoming ingrown, if the pain is getting in the way of walking or exercise, if the skin stays swollen or inflamed, if the nail’s hard to trim safely, or if you notice discharge or other signs of infection.
It’s also important to seek professional advice if you have diabetes, poor circulation or reduced feeling in your feet. These conditions can increase the risk of complications from foot and nail problems, so it’s safer to have an ingrown toenail assessed rather than trying to manage it yourself.
What Are The Treatment Options For An Ingrown Toenail?
There isn’t one fix for every ingrown toenail. What suits you comes down to the nail’s shape, how far it’s grown in, whether there’s infection, and how often it keeps returning.
For a lot of nails, conservative care is a sensible first step. Podiatrists in Adelaide can gently remove or reduce the offending section of the nail and relieve pressure on the surrounding skin. They can also look at factors such as footwear and nail-cutting habits that may be contributing to the problem.
Onyfix – A non-surgical Treatment For Ingrown Toenails
If your nail keeps coming back and you want to go for a non-surgical ingrown toenail treatment, Onyfix treatment may be an option worth discussing with your Adelaide Podiatrist. A specialised composite material is applied to the nail and cured with an LED light. As the nail grows, it can help guide the nail and influence its shape over time.
Nothing is cut away, so it works alongside the nail’s natural growth, which may make it suitable for some recurring or involuted nails. It isn’t an instant solution, however. Toenails grow slowly, so changing the shape of the nail takes time.
When Might Nail Surgery Be Recommended?
Nail surgery for Ingrown Toenails may be recommended when the nail keeps returning and hasn’t responded to conservative care. When it’s repeatedly painful or infected, or is affecting daily life, surgery might be advised. The affected section of the nail is removed and it’s done in the clinic under local anaesthetic. In some cases, treatment is also applied to the nail root to reduce the chance of that section growing back.
Nail surgery isn’t automatically required just because you’ve got an ingrown toenail. Your podiatrist will assess the nail and discuss whether it is an appropriate option for you. You can learn more about ingrown toenail nail surgery and what the procedure involves.
What’s The Right Treatment For Your Ingrown Toenail?
It’s natural to want a straight answer on whether to go for surgery or Onyfix for Ingrown Toenails, but it depends on the nail. If your ingrown toenail keeps coming back and the nail shape is suitable, Onyfix may be an option to consider.
If the problem is persistent, particularly if there is recurring pain or infection, or conservative treatment hasn’t resolved it, nail surgery may be discussed as a longer-term treatment option. Either way, the key is having the nail properly assessed rather than trying to decide on a treatment based only on how it looks.
What Happens At An Ingrown Toenail Assessment?
If you’ve never seen a podiatrist about a toenail before, you may be wondering what to expect. Your podiatrist will take a proper look at the nail and the skin around it, check its shape and the way it’s growing, and assess how inflamed the area is and whether there are signs of infection.
They’ll ask about your shoes, how you’ve been cutting your nails and anything you’ve already tried, then talk you through the treatment options that may be suitable for you and help you decide on the next step.
That’s especially useful for a recurring nail, because it allows the underlying factors contributing to the problem to be considered rather than simply treating the painful area each time.
How We Treat Ingrown Toenails At Ac Podiatry?
At AC Podiatry, we take the time to understand what is causing your ingrown toenail and how it is affecting you. Rather than simply treating the painful edge, we assess the nail, the surrounding skin and the factors that may be contributing to the problem.
Depending on your individual circumstances, we can discuss conservative treatment options and non-surgical options such as Onyfix. We might also recommend nail surgery when it is appropriate. Our goal is to find an approach that addresses your current symptoms while considering the longer-term health of your nail.
Living With Painful Or Recurring Ingrown Toenail
IGTN can make everyday activities more uncomfortable than they need to be. Whether you’re dealing with your first ingrown toenail or have been struggling with the painful nail for months, getting it assessed can help you understand what’s causing the problem and what can be done about it.
With Podiatry clinics across Adelaide – Oakden, Adelaide CBD, Magill and Malvern, our specialist podiatrists are here to help you understand your options and get the right care for your feet. You can call us on (08) 8255 5575 or book online at any of our four Adelaide clinics: Adelaide CBD, Magill, Malvern, Oakden.
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This information is general in nature and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for assessment and treatment recommendations specific to your child’s situation.
