What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
Ingrown toenails happen when the side or corner of your nail grows into the skin beside it. This can cause redness, pain, swelling, and sometimes infection.
Common causes include:
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Naturally curved or wide nails
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Incorrect nail cutting (especially cutting too short or rounding the corners)
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Tight or narrow footwear
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Repeated trauma or stubbing the toe
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Family history or inherited nail shape
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Excess moisture or sweaty feet
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Growth spurts during adolescence (leading to shoes being too tight)
Symptoms and When to Seek Help
If your toe is sore, swollen, or red along the nail edge, it may already be ingrown.
Typical symptoms include:
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Pain and tenderness along the side of the nail
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Redness, swelling, or warmth around the area
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Discharge, bleeding, or yellow pus
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Overgrown tissue forming around the nail
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Pain when wearing shoes or applying pressure
If pain, swelling, or discharge are worsening, it’s time to see a podiatrist. Early treatment prevents infection and makes recovery faster.
How We Treat Ingrown Toenails at My Family Podiatry
Conservative Care for Immediate Relief
Many ingrown toenails can be treated gently and without surgery. We carefully lift and remove the offending nail edge to reduce pressure and pain.
Our conservative care includes:
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Gentle lift and removal of the offending nail spicule
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Local antiseptic clean and sterile dressing
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Padding or offloading to reduce pressure
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Advice on nail cutting, footwear, and salt water bathing
This is suitable for first-time or mild cases and provides immediate relief for most patients.
Permanent Solution for Recurring Ingrown Nails
When ingrown nails keep returning, or infection is severe, we offer a permanent fix with a Partial Nail Avulsion procedure.
This involves:
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Local anaesthetic to fully numb the toe
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Precise removal of the affected side of the nail
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Application of a chemical (phenol) to stop regrowth of that nail edge
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No stitches, quick recovery with minimal downtime
It’s ideal for chronic, infected, or repeatedly recurring ingrown nails and has a very high success rate.
We will always start with the least invasive option and only recommend surgery if it is the best way to stop the problem coming back.
Aftercare and Recovery
You can walk immediately after treatment.
We recommend:
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Wearing open-toed or wide shoes for comfort
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Keeping the dressing dry for the first 24 hours
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Monitoring for signs of infection such as redness or discharge
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Returning for a review appointment as advised
You can expect most discomfort to settle within a few days.
Why Choose Us in Albany Creek
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Same-day relief available where possible
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Permanent procedures offered when needed
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Experienced podiatrists in family and sports foot care
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Convenient location with easy parking
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Servicing Albany Creek, Eatons Hill, Warner and surrounding suburbs of North Brisbane
FAQS
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail (medically known as onychocryptosis) occurs when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin rather than over the top of it. This most commonly affects the big toe and can lead to pain, swelling, redness, and sometimes infection if left untreated.
What causes ingrown toenails?
Common causes of ingrown toenails include:
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Improper nail trimming (cutting too short or cutting into the corners)
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Tight-fitting shoes or socks that squeeze toes together
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Foot trauma such as stubbing your toe or dropping something on it
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Genetic predisposition to curved nail growth
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Poor foot hygiene
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Certain medical conditions affecting circulation
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Athletic activities that put pressure on toes
What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?
Symptoms of ingrown toenails include:
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Pain and tenderness along the side of the toenail
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Redness and swelling around the nail
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Infection signs such as pus or discharge
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Warmth in the affected area
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Difficulty wearing shoes due to pressure and pain
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Bleeding around the nail edge
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Formation of extra tissue (granulation tissue) around the nail
How does My Family Podiatry treat ingrown toenails?
My Family Podiatry offers both conservative and surgical treatments:
Conservative Treatment:
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Careful trimming of the ingrown nail edge using sterile instruments
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Rounding of the edge to reduce the risk of breaking the skin again
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Clearing callused skin from the nail edge
Surgical Treatment (Partial Nail Avulsion - PNA):
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Minor in-clinic procedure under local anaesthetic
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Permanent removal of the problematic nail edge
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Application of phenol to prevent regrowth
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94% success rate for preventing recurrence
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Quick recovery with return to enclosed shoes within 1-2 days
When is ingrown toenail surgery recommended?
Surgical treatment may be recommended when:
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Conservative treatments have failed
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The ingrown toenail keeps recurring
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There is persistent infection
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The condition significantly impacts daily activities
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The nail shape or biomechanical factors make recurrence likely
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The patient prefers a permanent solution
How can I prevent ingrown toenails?
Prevention strategies include:
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Cutting toenails straight across rather than rounding corners
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Keeping nails at moderate length (not too short or too long)
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Wearing properly fitting shoes with adequate toe room
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Maintaining good foot hygiene
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Using custom orthotics if foot position contributes to the problem
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Avoiding trauma to the toenails
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Choosing breathable footwear materials
What's the recovery process after ingrown toenail surgery?
Recovery after Partial Nail Avulsion typically involves:
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Minimal pain requiring only paracetamol for relief
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Return to enclosed shoes within 1-2 days
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Simple daily dressing changes for 1-2 weeks
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Avoiding swimming and high-impact activities for a few days
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Follow-up appointment to monitor healing
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Full healing within 2-4 weeks
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Very low risk of complications when post-operative instructions are followed
When should I see a podiatrist for an ingrown toenail?
Seek professional care if you experience:
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Persistent pain or swelling that doesn't improve with home care
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Signs of infection (redness, pus, warmth, red streaking)
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Recurring ingrown toenails
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Diabetes or circulation problems (increased complication risk)
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Inability to trim the nail safely yourself
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The condition interferes with daily activities or footwear
Can children get ingrown toenails?
Yes, children commonly develop ingrown toenails, especially teenagers and young athletes. My Family Podiatry provides specialised paediatric care and can perform age-appropriate treatments. Early intervention is particularly important in children to prevent complications and establish good nail care habits.
Does My Family Podiatry offer emergency appointments for ingrown toenails?
My Family Podiatry offers flexible appointment scheduling, including outside normal hours by prior arrangement. For urgent ingrown toenail issues, especially those involving infection, they recommend calling (07) 3088 6116 to discuss immediate care options.
NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION?
It’s not always easy knowing who to contact about your foot issues. All you know is that you want relief from your pain.
Podiatrists specialise in injuries and issues with the feet, ankles and legs. If you enter your details into the form, one of our team will contact you to discuss your current problem and how My Family Podiatry may be able to help you.
Alternatively, call us on (07) 3088 6116 to speak with one of our team.