Whether your ingrown toenail has just started to hurt or has become infected, our podiatrists can treat it, including ingrown toenail removal when it's needed.
Schedule a ConsultationAn ingrown toenail is a nail whose side or corner curves down and presses into the skin of the toe. It most often affects the big toe. In mild cases it causes soreness along the nail edge. If the skin breaks, bacteria can get in and the toe can become infected.
An ingrown toenail usually starts with tenderness along one side of the nail. Common signs include:
If you have diabetes, nerve damage in your feet or poor circulation, don't treat an ingrown toenail at home. Have it checked right away, because a small infection can become serious more quickly.
Schedule a ConsultationMost ingrown toenails come from how nails are trimmed or how shoes fit. Cutting nails too short or rounding the corners lets the edge grow into the skin, and tight shoes press it there. A stubbed toe or picking at the nail can also start one. Some people have naturally curved nails that make ingrown toenails more likely, and these can't always be prevented.
We start with the simplest treatment that will work. For a mild ingrown toenail without infection, your podiatrist may gently lift the nail edge and place a small piece of cotton or a splint under it so the nail grows over the skin.
If you have chronic ingrown toenails or curved (pincer) nails, the KD Device is a nonsurgical option designed to treat both.
When an ingrown toenail keeps coming back or is badly infected, removing the ingrown part of the nail is usually the most reliable fix.
Ingrown toenail removal is a short procedure done in the office. Your podiatrist first numbs the toe with a local anesthetic injection. Once the toe is numb, they remove the ingrown edge of the nail, or occasionally the whole nail.
For nails that keep becoming ingrown, your podiatrist can apply a chemical to the root of that nail edge so it doesn't grow back. The skin underneath heals into firm tissue.
Schedule a ConsultationMost people go back to normal daily activities quickly. While your toe heals:
Call our office if you notice more swelling, pain or drainage, since these can be signs of infection.
For most people, a few habits lower the risk:
These habits are especially worth keeping up after treatment, while the nail grows back.
Our podiatrists treat ingrown toenails at our offices in Metairie, Covington and Prairieville. For toenail fungus, nail injuries and other nail conditions we treat, see our nail care page.
Mild cases without infection may improve with warm soaks, keeping the area clean and wearing roomy shoes. Don't cut out or dig at the nail edge yourself, because that can make it worse or cause an infection. If it doesn't improve in a few days, shows signs of infection, or you have diabetes or poor circulation, see a podiatrist.
An infected ingrown toenail often won't heal while the nail edge is still pressing into the skin. Your podiatrist will usually remove that edge so the area can drain and heal, and may prescribe an antibiotic if the infection has spread.
You'll feel a brief sting from the numbing injection. After that, the toe is numb, so you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure. Some soreness for a few days afterward is normal.
Most people are back to normal daily activities within a day or two, and the toe usually heals over a few weeks. Healing can take a little longer when the nail root was treated to keep the edge from growing back.
See a podiatrist if the pain doesn't improve after a few days of home care, if you notice signs of infection, or if ingrown toenails keep coming back.
If your ingrown toenail is painful, infected or keeps coming back, a visit with one of our podiatrists is the quickest way to find the right fix.
Schedule a Consultation