What is an ingrown toenail?
Should you cut out an ingrown toenail at HOME?
No. There are many reasons you should see a professional for this, the primary reason is infection. Podiatrists are able to sterilize instruments and prescribe antibiotics if there is a chance of infection at the toe.
First, the toe is numbed with greatest precision. We use our "painless" injection techniques to help make the injection as painless as possible. Some patients experience some pressure but it is tolerable. We recommend you bring your phone or ipad to play on to distract you.
Following this, the doctor makes a small cut in the border of the toenail that is causing the redness and irritation. The cut is extended to remove the toenail at the root. It is then removed and the proud flesh removed as well. The root of the toenail is important to remove. If this is not removed or removed partially, there will be more redness and irritation as the toenail grows back.
After the procedure, and many times prior to the procedure, we will recommend soaking the foot in luke warm water with epson salts added. This allows bacteria and toe jam to come out from under the nail plate without have to forcefully remove it.
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