Can A Chiropodist Stop You From Getting An Ingrown Toenail?

Anyone who has suffered from an ingrown toenail knows how excruciatingly painful they can be and a severe case will usually require surgery. But with some skilful chiropody, you can avoid the problem from ever becoming so serious.

Ingrowing toenails are not uncommon, with research indicating that the average podiatrist carries out surgery for the condition at least five times a month.

An ingrowing toenail is defined as a situation in which the nail is intruding into the flesh of a toe. It usually affects the big toe, though occasionally others can be impacted. This can leave your toe very sore, inflamed and often infected.

If you think this may be starting to happen to your toe, your first thought may be to see a chiropodist to see if they can take any action at an early stage to stop the problem from getting worse. The good news is that if they catch it early enough, they will.

What Does Surgery On An Ingrowing Toenail Involve?

If you do need surgery, this involves a process called avulsion in which part of the nail is removed and the root burned with phenol to prevent it from growing back.

This can be very effective, but requires multiple injections of local anaesthetic and the process of recovery requires extensive aftercare.

To get it done on the NHS could require painful months of waiting. Therefore, it is far better to prevent it from reaching this stage of severity.

Factors that can lead to ingrowing toenails include:

•       Genetics, particularly having wide toenails
•       Other foot conditions, such as bunions
•       Wearing tight socks or footwear
•       Sweaty feet that make the skin softer, which is a reason why sporty people are particularly susceptible
•       Not cutting your toenails correctly

How Can Early Intervention By A Chiropodist Help With An Ingrowing Toenail?

If you see a chiropodist because you think you are starting to see signs of an ingrowing nail, they can do the following:

•       Carry out an initial assessment and check for infection
•       Trim and reshape the nail so it is not prone to grow inwards
•       An involuted nail (which curls into the flesh) can be trimmed and filed down
•       Antibiotics may be prescribed for any infection present
•       You can also receive advice on cutting your nails correctly, keeping your toes dry and clean and wearing the right socks and footwear.

Above all, it makes sense to see a chiropodist if you have any early symptoms, because this can prevent the nail from digging in further and prevent infection.

Indeed, it may be the case that in some instances you don’t have an ingrowing toenail, but you are at risk of one and getting your nails trimmed and some good advice may prove to be very effective in preventing such a situation from arising at all.

This way, you won’t be left with the choice between paying for private podiatry or waiting months in pain for NHS treatment while hoping nobody steps on your sore toe.

If ever the saying that “prevention is better than cure” held true, it is when you have trouble with your toenails and come to see a chiropodist to prevent it from developing into something far worse.