Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Fairfax, VA
A nail edge growing into the skin beside it, causing pain, redness, and sometimes infection, treated in a single office visit with a quick procedure that prevents it from coming back.
Overview
An ingrown toenail happens when the corner or side of a nail, almost always on the big toe, grows into the soft skin next to it. The skin becomes red, swollen, and tender, and the area can become infected. Home remedies help mild cases for a while, but a nail that keeps growing in needs the problem edge removed.
Symptoms
- Pain and tenderness along one side of the toenail
- Redness and swelling of the skin beside the nail
- Drainage or pus, a sign of infection
- Overgrowth of skin over the nail edge
- Pain with closed shoes or pressure on the toe
Causes and risk factors
- Trimming nails too short or rounding the corners
- Tight shoes that press on the toe
- A naturally curved or thick nail
- Injury to the toe, including stubbing it or repetitive pressure from sports
- Family history of ingrown nails
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by examining the toe. If there is drainage or spreading redness, we look for infection. Patients with diabetes or poor circulation are examined carefully, because a minor nail problem can become a serious one.
Treatment
- Mild cases: warm soaks, properly trimmed nails, and roomier shoes
- In-office procedure: the toe is numbed with a local anesthetic and the ingrown edge of the nail is removed, usually in about 15 minutes
- Permanent correction: for recurring ingrown nails, the root of the nail edge is treated with a chemical so that edge does not grow back; the rest of the nail is unaffected
- Infection: antibiotics when needed, alongside removing the nail edge
When to see us
Book a visit at our Fairfax office if the toe is red, swollen, or draining, if the pain has lasted more than a few days, or if the nail keeps growing in. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or numbness in your feet, see us right away rather than treating it at home.
Our approach
Most ingrown toenails are resolved in one visit. Dr. Andrew Falco and Dr. Shyaun Rafii treat the nail edge in the office and, for nails that have become ingrown more than once, correct it permanently so you are not back in a few months with the same toe.
Frequently asked questions
Does the procedure hurt?
The injection to numb the toe is the only uncomfortable part, and it is brief. The procedure itself is painless. Most patients have mild soreness for a day or two afterward.
Can I walk afterward?
Yes. You walk out of the office. We recommend an open-toed or roomy shoe for a few days.
Will it come back?
If only the ingrown edge is removed, it can. The permanent procedure treats the nail root so that edge does not regrow.
Should I try to cut it out myself?
No. Home surgery is the most common way a simple ingrown nail becomes an infected one.