We are the experts in the treatment of ingrown toe nails in Sydney. An ingrown toe nail occurs when the edge of the nail grows down and into the skin of the toe. There may be pain, redness, swelling and these sites are often complicated by the presence of bacterial infection. The treatment for this condition is relatively painless and often yields instant results. The most common cause of an ingrown toe nail is poor toe nail cutting technique. Other causes include poor fitting footwear, abnormal nail shape, medication such as Roaccutane (isotretinoin) which is used to treat acne and a family history of this condition. Treatment consists of treating the infection and removing the small fragment of nail penetrating the skin. This is commonly done painlessly without local anaesthetic depending on the extent of the issue. For cases with extensive nail penetration and excessive tissue growth we recommend a local anaesthetic. There is usually no pain to minor discomfort following treatment and patients can normally return to immediate work/school. Redressing of the site may be required and are painless to perform. We expect our patients to recover immediately or up to one week following treatment depending on the extent of the ingrown nail. For recalcitrant or recurrent ingrown toe nails we recommended a small surgical procedure known as a partial or total nail avulsion (also known as nail root and matrix resection). This is a minor procedure which aims to permanently treat ingrown toenails. The procedure is usually performed in podiatrists’ rooms, takes around one hour and the patient is able to walk immediately afterwards. There are no costly anaesthetic or hospital fees. For further information about treating your ingrown toe nails in Sydney, contact us right away.
