What is an ingrown toenail?
A true ingrown toenail is one where the edge or corner of the nail penetrates the surrounding flesh, thereby causing an open wound which can get infected. This is quite a common occurrence, especially affecting the big toenails.
However involuted or convoluted toenails can cause similar pain to ingrowing toenails, but without the open wound and therefore no infection. These types of toenails have too much curvature across the nail and can be dealt with in the same way as true ingrow toenails.
Pain, redness, swelling, and weepage from the side of a toenail suggests that it is ingrown. This can occur on more than one side or toe at the same time. If left untreated, hypergranulation tissue can form, basically excessive healing flesh. This often requires removal either by chemical cautery or sharp debridement, and a Podiatrist would be best placed to confirm the diagnosis and provide appropriate treatments.
How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?
Treatments For An Ingrown Toenail In Southam, Warwickshire
There are a range of treatment options available, but once an ingrowing toenail occurs, it is best to get professional advice and treatment.
Simple remedies
Sometimes ingrowing toenails can be alleviated with appropriate nail care (which doesn’t include cutting a ‘V’ in them despite the old wives tale!), correctly fitting footwear, and/or antibiotics if infection develops. Digging an ingrowing toenail out yourself is not the safest option due to the lack of sterility of any tools used, and therefore infection can be introduced or exascerabated. Podiatrists or Chiropodists or Foot Health Practitioners may be able to cut away that part of the nail which is digging into the flesh, either on a one-off basis or by providing regular care to help avoid recurrence. However to achieve the most relief from the problem, we have to somehow alter how the nail grows.
Nail surgery
Generally the preferred option in the UK due to its high rates of success is nail surgery, which can be performed either using a scalpel to cut out the nail matrix (the tissue that generates nail growth) or using chemicals such as phenol or sodium hydroxide to destroy the nail matrix.
Nail surgery is performed following a pre-operative assessment to help ensure that there will be no complications during the procedure and that healing will take place satisfactorily. At my clinic this means a thorough medical history is taken together with indepth assessments for local anaesthetic, nail surgery, and peripheral vasculature (blood supply) involving doppler ultrasonography. The procedure of choice at my clinic is phenolisation of the nail matrix as we have over 99% success rate with this, and it is suitable for involuted nails, convoluted nails, and true ingrown nails. It can even be performed on infected toenails and troublesome fingernails as well.
When performing nail surgery, removing a small part of the nail to resolve the problem is usually the best option. However it is only occasionally necessary to have to lose the whole nail even though this may be the only option offered by others who perform nail surgery. The vast majority of nail surgery
cases only require what we call partial nail avulsion with phenolisation of the nail matrix.
If done carefully by a skilled Podiatrist (Foot Specialist) then you won’t even notice any of the nail is missing, but you will be pain-free most likely for the rest of your life.
Nail bracing
This seems to be more commonly carried out in other European countries as a method of managing ingrowing toenails, possibly due to regulatory restrictions regarding surgery or access to local anaesthetics.
This procedure involves applying a gel or plastic or metal brace across the nail in attempt to straighten out any curvature. It can resolve ingrowing or involuted nails but may not provide a permanent solution without ongoing bracing.
How to prevent ingrown toenails
Firstly, avoiding tight fitting or pointed footwear can help as its stops the toe flesh from being squashed against the nail. Secondly, maintaining good foot hygiene will help reduce the chance of infection occuring if a nail edge should press into the flesh. This involves washing and drying your feet thoroughly each day, wearing clean hosiery, and making sure shoes are completely dry inside before donning them.
Finally it is important to cut toenails properly. You will undoubtedly have heard advice on nail cutting that says you need to cut nails straight across to stop ingrowing toenails. This is not actually the case, especially if your nails are involuted or convoluted. Instead your nail shape should ideally follow the shape of the end of the toe i.e. with a gentle curve. However when cutting your nails you do have to be careful that you don’t leave a shoulder or spike of nail that can press into the surrounding flesh. If you are struggling with your nail care, then regular treatment by a Podiatrist or Chiropodist or Foot Health Practitioner may be required.
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I've been going to Health First for 10+ years. Both Jonathan and Judy are excellent Foot Doctors with specialisms to help with quirky problems. The reception staff have always been lovely. I have the wax treatment which is both relaxing and really helps my feet
Maria Lucas
Excellent!!! Very professional service, great treatment and aftercare. Definitely recommend. Thanks for fitting me in at short notice too!!
Clare Everest
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I was recommended to go and see Jonathan from an excellent local pilates instructor who I trust implicitly, so I knew that the recommendation didn't come lightly. I was not disappointed. Jonathan has been attentive, professional, knowledgeable and provided a very considered solution to my plantar fasciitis. His team are always friendly and helpful - even when I got stuck in traffic and missed my appointment! Highly recommend!
Clare Price
Great service and an extremely friendly atmosphere. Lovely people work here. Liam Alexander
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Excellent treatments fully recommend. Jonathon is very professional and knows what he is doing. Very experienced and takes into account your needs. I am currently relaxing with a hot wax treatment.
Valerie Jukes
Knowing Jonathan as a fellow podiatrist. He has a special gift in delivering information and motivating people, which is amazing. I have attended a number of his courses and talks, where he shares his knowledge and skills. An inspirational podiatrist! Lynda Cowan
- Excellent well informed professional service. Treatment options discussed, and every effort made to deliver appropriate care promptly.
Thank you to Jonathan and the team.
Carol Brewer
I wouldn't trust anyone else with my foot-care. With severe circulation issues, my feet are comprised - Health First have treated me for 15 years and I highly recommend them.
Angela Navarro
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Excellent service. The clinic was efficient enough that Jonathan was able to undertake toe surgery on the same day of my first appointment (just minutes after the problem was diagnosed!). The staff were very friendly and informative, and kept me very much at ease during the entire process. I was very appreciative and will be returning if I have any similar problems in the future. Highly recommended!
Joe Miller
Jonathan Small and his team have been excellent. A person centred, straight forward approach and really genuine team. I had been told by NHS and other podiatrists that the healing after ingrowing toe nail would take up to 12 weeks yet after the surgery at Health First Foot, it has completely healed in just over 3 weeks. Going privately was one of the best investments I've made. Thank you Health First ! Nikki Jackson
- Specialist podiatry advice from a highly skilled professional - bridging the gap between podiatry and physio.
Jo Webb
I have received first class treatment and my foot is feeling less painful especially after the
laser treatment I had on it. Mary Richardson
- Jonathan Small has been treating me for a range of foot and gait problems for a number of
Years including plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuromas and joint hypermobility. As well as physical
Treatment he has supplied me with various orthotics which have really helped me keep
Mobile and reasonably fit. I am undergoing treatment at the moment and I fully expect that
Jonathan will be as successful as he has been in the past. All the staff at Health First are
Friendly and helpful.
Pam Alexander
A caring and professional service backed up by experience. I had tried every over the counter cure and a few dodgy ones from the internet for my persistent verucca with no luck. Jonathan brought all of his extensive knowledge to bear and now it is gone. I felt confident that my best interests were at the heart of any treatments and that I was in safe, professional hands at all times. Highly recommended. Evelyn Baxter
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A great practice. Have been using for the past 5 years and always have excellent service. Very friendly and helpful staff. My feet are in great shape
Emily Harris
Excellent experience at the Health First Foot Clinic. I went with a long term problem with my foot which I had self diagnosed incorrectly as a sprained ankle. My injury was assessed and diagnosed and I had a course of treatment . The treatment was further complicated by recent knee replacement but Jonathan continued to find ways to make the treatment work allowing for my recovering knee .I am pleased to say my injury is almost fully recovered which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone and they hadn't been so patient . Very happy with the diagnosis and treatment .
The Pet
- 100% recommendation. I walked in with significant foot pain and walked out strapped up and reasonably pain free. The initial consultation was delivered with expert knowledge, professionalism and clearly explained diagnosis and treatment plan.
I had attended another foot clinic for a diagnosis but my instinct told me to walk away and consider their treatment proposal and seek another opinion. I felt disappointed that I had no immediate temporary solution to reduce constant foot pain..
I was then recommended to contact Jonathan and the rest is history. His manner and professionalism exceeds, not only am I working towards pain free walking I know I have the confidence in approaching a clear expert. Thank you Jonathan and your team. I have already recommended.
Helen Keast
It was nice to be greeted by pleasant and friendly reception/admin staff.
Johnathan (the podiatrist) was very professional and he was very willing to share his knowledge.
The pain in my foot was laser treated and on the last treatment it was manipulated which was amazing.
I would highly recommend Johnathan.
Ann Ann Maria
- I can so recommend this company, their treatments and advice were exemplary and I was made to feel so relaxed and looked after from beginning to end
Jackie King
I visited Jonathan with terrible foot pain, he diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis after a full check and I was given sets of exercises to heal my foot, I have just left after my third visit and the pain has all but gone, I found Jonathan and Kate very friendly, would and have recommend to others, Thank you.👣 Paul Fogg