Ingrown toenails are a common occurrence. They are caused when a nail grows into the skin at the sides of your nail bed. As the nail ‘digs in’, it can cause pain, swelling and often infection. Ingrown toenails can occur because of trauma such as stubbing your toe, or from activities that put repeated pressure on your toes, such as running or tight footwear. They can also be caused by incorrect trimming or ‘ripping’ of the nails, or by conditions such as thickened or fungal nails.

You may have noticed redness, tenderness, swelling/inflammation, pain and even bleeding or a discharge by the side of your nail. These are all symptoms that suggest you could have an ingrown toenail. While it can be tempting, it’s best not to attempt to remedy this at home yourself. Because of the risk of infection, getting a podiatrist to treat your ingrown toenail is the best idea. Treatment of your ingrown toenail in our clinic could involve shaping the nail correctly, removing a section of the nail to relieve the pressure, and in some instances a surgical procedure under local anesthetic may be necessary.