Do you have an ingrown toenail? Geelong Podiatrist Ryan discusses your best treatment options.

If you know, you know… The pain from that throbbing ingrown toenail can leave you hobbling around the house searching for anything that may reduce the pain. Google ‘ingrown toenail treatment’ and you will be met with an extensive list of home based, in-clinic and surgical treatment options. Some of which will be good, and some…well not so good.

But no need to don’t worry, we at Prosper Health Group are the experts in all things in-grown toenails and i’m going to outline your best treatment options.

Ingrown toenails can present in varying degrees of severity and location. Every ingrown toenail is individual in how we as Podiatrists would choose and proceed with a specific treatment plan. Treatment plans are based on how severe the ingrown toenail is, how long it has been there for, whether it is complicated by infection, the location in which it presents and the factors contributing to it beginning.

ALL ingrown toenails regardless of severity should be reviewed by a podiatrist in their clinic rooms. At-home remedies (such as salt water soaks and over the counter pain relief) may reduce the symptoms associated with the ingrown toenail, however will not resolve the actual problem.

So how can we help you?

With a depth of experience in treating and managing ingrown toenails, we at prosper health have developed a comprehensive guide in how we treat our patients ingrown toenails.
Depending on how severe your ingrown toenail is we will provide both surgical and nonsurgical options for treating your ingrown toenail.

Non-surgical options can include packing the side of the nail in an attempt to reduce pressure where the nail might be digging into the skin. Conservative removal of the offending nail edge with the use of our clinical instruments. Antibiotic intervention if there is an active infection present.

Ingrown toenail surgery:

An ingrown toenail surgery is a low invasive procedure that takes place in our clinic rooms. It is also known as a ‘Partial Nail Avulsion’. During the procedure a vertical piece of nail is removed from where the ingrown toenail is present. We will remove the piece all the way to where it grows at the nail matrix. A chemical is then used to cauterize where that piece of nail grows from, to prevent you having any ingrown toenail complications in the future.

This is a very common procedure we perform in our clinic rooms with little complications associated. You’re required to rest for 24 hours after the procedure before returning to your normal daily routine. Complete healing time typically takes 1-3 weeks.