Ingrown toenails are a common foot condition and can be very painful. Ingrown toenails can occur if the nail is too wide or too curved. As the nail grows, it digs into the skin leading to pain and inflammation. If an ingrown toenail is left untreated, it can allow a secondary infection to occur. Picking nails and poor cutting techniques can also lead to ingrown toenails.

If the condition is treated before it becomes too severe, the ingrown section, commonly known as a spicule, can be trimmed out, followed by gently cleaning out the area where the nail was buried. At Bio Allied Health, we always take the time to guide our patients on how to cut the toenails properly to prevent reoccurrence.

Permanent resolution – If these non-surgical attempts have failed or the foot condition becomes severe, a minor procedure can be carried out in our practice under local anaesthetic. This procedure is called partial nail avulsion with phenolisation. It should allow for a permanent resolution, enabling the current ingrown toenail to settle and stop it from ever occurring again. On most occasions, the partial nail avulsion is pain-free during and after the procedure.

Bio Podiatry podiatrists are not only experienced but also received extra training with Sydney Podiatric Surgeon Dr Damien Lafferty.