Do You Have a Painful or Recurrent Ingrown Toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into or irritates the surrounding skin. It can cause pain, redness, swelling and, in some cases, infection.
If your ingrown toenail keeps returning, becomes infected, or has not improved after previous treatment, a podiatry assessment can help determine why it is recurring and what treatment is most appropriate.
At Gentle Podiatry, ingrown toenails are a condition we assess and treat regularly, from early painful nail edges through to recurrent and previously treated ingrown toenails.
Our Approach to Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Experienced Ingrown Toenail Care – Our podiatrists routinely manage ingrown toenails and perform nail procedures. Each nail is assessed individually to determine whether conservative treatment or a nail procedure is appropriate.
Targeted, Minimally Invasive Technique – Where clinically appropriate, only the problematic section of the nail is removed, preserving as much of the normal nail as possible.
Dedicated Instrument Reprocessing – Our clinic has invested in dedicated MELAG instrument cleaning and sterilisation equipment, including a washer-disinfector and steam steriliser, as part of our instrument reprocessing process.
No Referral Required – You can book directly with our podiatrists without a GP referral.
Clear Aftercare and Follow-up – We provide dressing instructions, aftercare advice and follow-up to monitor healing following your procedure.
Ingrown Toenail Procedure
For recurrent ingrown toenails, a Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) with phenolisation may be recommended.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and generally takes up to approximately 45 minutes.
Local anaesthetic is administered to numb the affected toe. Once numb, the toe is prepared with antiseptic and a tourniquet is applied temporarily to control bleeding.
For a Partial Nail Avulsion, a narrow section of the affected nail edge is carefully removed. A Total Nail Avulsion, involving removal of the entire nail, is generally reserved for circumstances where it is clinically indicated.
Where appropriate, phenol is then applied to the corresponding nail matrix with the aim of reducing the likelihood of that section of nail growing back.
A dressing is applied before you leave the clinic.
Most patients are able to walk out of the clinic following the procedure, although activity modification is recommended during the initial healing period. We recommend arranging transport following your procedure.
As with any procedure, potential risks can include discomfort, infection, delayed healing and recurrence or regrowth of the nail. Your podiatrist will discuss the procedure, alternatives, expected recovery and relevant risks with you before treatment.
Has a Previous Ingrown Toenail Procedure Not Worked?
Ingrown toenails can sometimes return following previous treatment.
If you have previously had an ingrown toenail treated by another healthcare provider and it has returned, we can reassess it.
Rather than simply repeating the previous treatment, we assess the shape of the nail, the affected nail border, surrounding tissue and previous treatment before discussing the most appropriate next step.
Depending on the findings, this may involve conservative treatment or a further nail procedure.
Why Choose Gentle Podiatry?
- Podiatrists experienced in the assessment and treatment of ingrown toenails
- Regularly performed ingrown toenail procedures
- Targeted partial nail techniques where clinically appropriate
- Dedicated MELAG instrument cleaning and sterilisation equipment
- Assessment of recurrent and previously treated ingrown toenails
- Local anaesthetic procedures performed in-clinic
- Clear treatment options, aftercare instructions and follow-up
- No GP referral required
Book an Ingrown Toenail Assessment
If you have a painful, infected or recurrent ingrown toenail — or a previous procedure has not resolved the problem — book an assessment with our podiatry team.
We can assess the nail, explain the available options and determine whether conservative treatment or an ingrown toenail procedure is appropriate for you.