There are different types of surgical treatments for ingrown toenails. Partial nail removal only involves removing the piece of nail that is digging into your skin. Your doctor numbs your toe and then narrows the toenail.
According to the NHS, partial nail removal is 98 percent effective for preventing future ingrown toenails. During a partial nail removal, the sides of the nail are cut away so that the edges are completely straight.
A piece of cotton is placed under the remaining portion of the nail to keep the ingrown toenail from recurring. Your doctor may also treat your toe with a compound called phenol, which keeps the nail from growing back.
Total nail removal may be used if your ingrown nail is caused by thickening. Your doctor will give you a local pain injection and then remove the entire nail in a procedure called a matrixectomy.
After surgery, your doctor will send you home with your toe bandaged. You will probably need to keep your foot raised for the next one to two days and wear special footwear to allow your toe to heal properly. Avoid movement as much as possible. Your bandage is usually removed two days after surgery. Your doctor will advise you to wear open-toe shoes and to do daily salt water soaks until your toe heals.
You will also be prescribed pain relief medication and antibiotics to prevent infection. Your toenail will likely grow back a few months after a partial nail removal surgery.
If the entire nail is removed down to the base the nail matrix under your skin , a toenail can take over a year to grow back. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can cause an infection in the bone in your toe. A toenail infection can also lead to foot ulcers, or open sores, and a loss of blood flow to the infected area. Tissue decay and tissue death at the site of infection are possible.
A foot infection can be more serious if you have diabetes. Even a small cut, scrape, or ingrown toenail may quickly become infected due to the lack of blood flow and nerve sensitivity. See your doctor right away if you have diabetes and are concerned about an ingrown toenail infection. If you have a genetic predisposition to ingrown toenails, they may keep coming back or appear on multiple toes at once. Your quality of life may be affected by pain, infections, and other painful foot issues that require multiple treatments or surgeries.
In this case, your doctor may recommend a partial or full matrixectomy to remove the toenails causing chronic pain. Read more about foot care and diabetes. It's important to treat ingrown toenails as soon as they occur to prevent infection. Here are 10 remedies that may be used to treat mild to severe…. Foot care.
American Diabetes Association. Tintinalli JE, et al. Soft tissue problems of the foot. New York, N. Eekhof JAH, et al. Interventions for ingrowing toenails. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Canale ST, et al. Disorders of nails and skin. In: Campbells Operative Orthopaedics. Philadelphia, Pa. Goldsmith LA, et al. Biology of nails and nail disorders. Prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor during your appointment.
Some basic questions include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Your doctor can diagnose an ingrown toenail based on your symptoms and a physical examination of your nail and the surrounding skin.
Treatment Ingrown toenail treatment Open pop-up dialog box Close. Ingrown toenail treatment Ingrown toenail treatment may include placing cotton under the edge of the nail to separate the nail from the overlying skin. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ingrown toenail. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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