By Chantell Peterson for LIVING WELL Magazine
I’m sure most of you have had a painful toenail at some point in your life. The feeling of a sharp, shooting pain penetrating in the corner of the toe is what we call an ingrown toenail. This is when the toenail, primarily occurring on the big or great toe, grows into the side of the toe. Not only can this be painful but very unsightly too.
There are many causes of ingrown toenails. The most common cause is due to the way the toenails are trimmed. When the toenail is cut in the corners, this forces the toenail to grow in that fashion and into the skin. The proper method of trimming the toenails is straight across the nail. This should be done with a straight toenail trimmer. Another major cause of ingrown toenails that is seen on a regular basis is from a traumatized toenail from a nail salon. Many patients will come into our office complaining that their toenails have been painful after receiving their pedicure. This is typically caused from the pedicurist trimming their toenails in the corner. While this may give some relief at the time, it is best to have the ingrown toenail cut out by the experts who know how to properly remove them. Pedicures are a nice luxury for both men and women however, if you get them, ensure they are cutting your toenails straight across.
Most patients seen in our office have already attempted to cut out their ingrown toenail. Unfortunately, most of the time, this causes greater risks and complications later. It is best to have the ingrown toenail treated as soon as possible so that it is removed properly.
The picture shown is a typical ingrown toenail that occurs in many of our patients. Sometimes the pain can be very severe and infection can set in if it goes untreated. Treatment is fairly simple with minimal pain. The most common treatment is a local procedure that is performed in our office under local anesthesia. First, the toe is anesthetized in the office with injectable anesthesia. Then the corner of the toenail is cut down to the root with a special device. Once the corner is excised, the nerve root is destroyed with an acid that is applied. The patient is then given oral antibiotics for prophylaxis. Patients do very well with this procedure and there is no cutting or stitches involved.
The patient then returns in two weeks for a follow up visit to evaluate the toenail and ensure there is no pain or infection present. Once this is ruled out, the patient is discharged. This is one of the most common procedures performed in our office on a daily basis and your satisfaction is our guarantee.
If you have an ingrown toenail that has been reoccurring or is bothersome, please call our office today at 972-316-0902 for an evaluation so we can cure your problem with a simple in-office procedure. With summertime right around the corner, now is the perfect time to take care of those toenail issues so you can wear your summer shoes and show off those toes!
Dr. Reza Mobarak heads the Southwest Foot and Ankle Center with offices in Plano and Lewisville and may be reached at 972-316-0902. www.swfacenter.com
