Canberra Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Specialist Canberra-wide Ingrown Toenail Treatment, Surgery and Non-Surgical Management
Ingrown toenails can cause extreme pain; if the problem is not taken seriously, it can lead to acute complications. That’s why we take ingrown toenail treatment and management very seriously. At CBR Podiatry, our experienced podiatrist, Nick Cotton, specialises in ingrown toenail treatment and removal. We support patients in Belconnen, Dickson, Civic and Canberra-wide from our centrally located foot care clinic in O’Connor, inner North Canberra. Depending on your condition, you have the option of non-surgical management or ingrown toenail surgery.
What Is an Ingrown Toenail and What are the Causes?
The medical name for an ingrown toenail is onychocryptosis. It happens when the edge of a nail penetrates the skin to the side of the nail. This area is known as the sulcus. It can appear red and inflamed, sometimes with discharge (pus) present, although sometimes the nail can look completely normal.
There are many potential causes of ingrown toenails, including:
- Poor nail-cutting technique
- Tight footwear
- Sweaty feet
- The shape of your nails (some people have curved nails)
- The thickness of your nails
- Debris or corns down the side of your nails (the sulcus)
- An injury to the toe (dropping something on the toe or banging the toe)
- Pressure from adjacent toes
- Foot function – increased pressure on the sides of your nails
What are My Ingrown Toenail Treatment Options at CBR Podiatry Canberra?
You have several options when it comes to managing an ingrown toenail. You can read about both options below, but the best way to address your condition and concerns is by making an appointment with our experienced principal podiatrist, who will do a thorough assessment, determine the appropriate next steps and provide you with a personalised treatment plan. Our ingrown toenail clinic is conveniently located at the O’Connor shops in inner North Canberra.
Non-Surgical Ingrown Toenail Removal and Management
At CBR Podiatry, we are often able to manage ingrown toenails conservatively, without surgery, when:
- the nail has a curved shape (otherwise known as an involution)
- there is a corn present
- there is debris/hard skin down the side of the nail
We can also provide ingrown toenail preventative care and education regarding footwear, nail cutting and pressure-relieving devices. In addition, he’ll suggest how to improve foot function if that’s contributing to pressure at the sides of the nails.
We manage ingrown toenails non-surgically by using specialised instruments to trim the nail’s edge and remove the nail’s ingrown spike. If treatment is not provided and the problem nail is not removed from the skin, the pain will likely increase and infection will take hold.
Ingrown Toenail Surgery in our North Canberra Podiatry Clinic
At CBR Podiatry, your wellbeing is our number one priority. We provide a very effective ingrown toenail surgery service for patients with ingrown toenails unsuitable for non-surgical management. Our highly trained podiatrist, Nick Cotton, has over 11 years of experience in nail surgery and strives to make your experience as comfortable as possible. In fact, most patients only feel a slight sting when local anaesthetic is applied.
Once the anaesthetic is working, we painlessly remove the offending nail edge and prevent it from growing back. During the procedure, liquefied phenol is applied to the nail root at the very edge of the nail to prevent the painful nail edge from regrowing. Evidence has shown that this solution prevents the recurrence of ingrown nails in 92-98% of cases. This procedure aims to leave a normal-looking nail while only removing a small section of the nail from the edge.
After the ingrown toenail removal procedure, you can go straight home. Then, we’ll see you again during your redressing appointment to monitor your healing and minimise the risk of infection.
Our podiatrist will provide you with a dressing pack following the procedure and thorough instructions for self-care between your redressing appointments.
If you are experiencing pain down the edge of your toenails, book an ingrown toenail treatment appointment today. We can investigate the causes and work on a long-term solution.
No Referral Needed
