ingrown toenails

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails via Partial nail avulsion with phenol

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol
Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol 1030 646 Ace Health Centre

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol

Introduction

Ingrown toenails can be an uncomfortable and painful condition that affects many individuals. When a toenail starts growing into the surrounding skin, it can lead to pain, redness, swelling, and even infection. Fortunately, medical advancements offer effective solutions, and one such method is partial nail avulsion with phenol. In this blog, we’ll explore what ingrown toenails are, how partial nail avulsion with phenol works, and the benefits it offers.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails, medically known as onychocryptosis, occur when the edge of a toenail, most commonly the big toe, begins to grow into the skin, causing discomfort and irritation. This can happen due to factors such as improper nail trimming, wearing tight shoes, hereditary predisposition, or foot injuries. Left untreated, ingrown toenails can escalate into infections, leading to further complications.

Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol: A Solution

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails via Partial nail avulsion with phenol is a standard and effective procedure used to treat recurring or severe ingrown toenails. It involves the removal of a portion of the ingrown nail along with the nail matrix, which is responsible for nail growth. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to ensure minimal discomfort.

Here’s how the procedure generally works:

  1. Anesthesia: The affected toe is numbed using a local anesthetic to ensure the patient doesn’t feel any pain during the procedure.
  2. Nail Removal: The doctor carefully removes the ingrown portion of the nail, ensuring that the nail matrix responsible for nail growth is also removed.
  3. Phenol Application: After removing the ingrown nail, a chemical compound called phenol is applied to the nail matrix. Phenol helps prevent the regrowth of the ingrown nail by destroying the nail matrix cells.
  4. Wound Care: The treated area is thoroughly cleaned, and an antibiotic ointment and sterile dressing are applied to prevent infection.

Benefits of Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol

  1. Effective Treatment: Partial nail avulsion with phenol has a high success rate in preventing the recurrence of ingrown toenails.
  2. Minimized Discomfort: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, ensuring minimal pain during the treatment.
  3. Quick Recovery: Patients can usually resume regular activities within a few days after the procedure.
  4. Low Recurrence: By targeting the nail matrix, the chances of the ingrown nail returning are significantly reduced.
  5. Prevention of Infections: Removing the ingrown nail and applying phenol helps prevent infection, which is a common complication of untreated ingrown toenails.

Conclusion

Ingrown toenails can be a source of persistent pain and discomfort, but solutions like partial nail avulsion with phenol offer effective relief. If you’re experiencing recurring or severe ingrown toenails, consulting a podiatrist is crucial. They can evaluate your condition and recommend the most suitable treatment, ensuring you can step forward pain-free and back to your regular activities in no time. Remember, seeking professional medical advice is always the best approach to dealing with any foot-related concerns.

Ingrown Toenail Treatment

Permanent ingrown toenail treatment
Permanent ingrown toenail treatment 500 285 Ace Health Centre

Permanent ingrown toenail treatment

During my time as a podiatrist, I have come across many different types of ingrown toenails. From babies at just 6 months old to 91 years young. Ingrown toenails can occur at any age for many different reasons. Either way, they are all manageable one way or another.

Nails grow from the back forwards. Not from the end. This means the shape of the nail bed at the back will most likely dictate the shape of the nail as it grows.

Three of the most common causes of ingrown toenails are hereditary factors and or damage/trauma and fungal infections whether it be chronic or acute.

Hereditary

People with ingrown toenails in their families are usually at higher risk of experiencing them at some point in their life. That’s not to say they will get them. If they do get them it’s usually around their teen years. The shape of the nail bed where the nail grows from can be passed down to the next generation. If you have suffered from ingrown toenails it’s important to keep a check on your kid’s toes to make sure it’s not happening to them.

Damage

Damage to the nail can change the shape of the nail bed. When this occurs the nail will change its growth path and possibly cause it to ingrow. You may also end up splitting the nail causing a piece of nail to lodged into the skin. in this case, the chance is it will not occur again once the lodged piece of nail is removed.

Fungal nails

The fungal nail can cause a lot of damage to the nail itself. In minor cases may just cause the nail to lift a little, but, in severe cases, it can cause complete disfigurement of the nail. This disfigurement can cause nails to change their growth path, put pressure on skin and areas not wanted, and as a result of Pearce the skin. It can also again cause changes to the shape of the nail bed causing the nail to grow down an unwanted path.

Permanent ingrown toenail treatment

Luckily there are permanent treatments that can be done. Conservative management should always be the first treatment, gently clear out the side of the nail, and make sure the edges are nice and smooth. Then keep a check on it to see if the ingrown nail reoccurs.

If this conservative management fails, removal of the part of the nail that is ingrowing may be required. This quick procedure is done under a local anesthetic. A small piece of nail is then removed all the way back to the nail bed. A solution is then applied to the nail bed where the nail was removed to make sure the nail doe not ingrow down that same path. The procedure takes around 5 mins after the anesthetic has kicked in. The podiatrist will make sure your toe is completely numb before starting anything to make the procedure as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Both of these procedures are done via your local podiatrist who has had specific specialist training in this area.

If you have an ingrown toenail and want to get it checked over, then contact us today to book in with our experienced podiatrist. 

 

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