Can an ingrown toenail heal itself?

 The painful, swollen and sometimes red corners of your toenails are known as ingrown toenails. Professional ingrown toenail treatment is needed in most cases because when left untreated the risk of the toenail getting infected is higher.

An ingrown toenail can heal on its own in 2-3 days. If you observe that the condition is not improving and the pain is not subsiding, probably infection is developing at the site. Taking antibiotics can be helpful to quickly get rid of the pain, pus and infection but the problem will reoccur if you don’t treat the source of the problem. Ingrown toenail surgery is the safest and most effective treatment choice to prevent reoccurrence.

In this post, we discuss why you should not wait for the pain to subside on its own and why a specialised treatment like toenail surgery is recommended.

What causes ingrown toenails and what are the symptoms?

An ingrown toenail can be described in two ways- when the edges of the nails fold and enter the skin and secondly when the skin grows over the toenail and causes pain.

The inflammation of the nail plate can occur when the nails are trimmed too short. Trimming nails and rounding the edges can also create a problem. Ill-fitted footwear also contributes to the condition when the corner of the nail plate is pushed inwardstowards the skin. Sports, dance and other activities that put pressure on the toes can also lead to painful and inflamed growth of the toenail.

Ingrown nails can be identified when the edges get hard, red and inflamed. When left untreated, toenails becomepus-filled, swollen and infected.

How to treat ingrown toenails at home?

When you start noticing pain or any sign of inflammation, you must begin self-care for the ingrown toenail.

Mix warm water and Epsom salt and soak the infected toe to let the inflammation heal on its own
Pay attention to your footwear, avoid wearing tight shoes or high heels that put pressure on the toe
Over the counter pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs can beuseful
Antibiotic ointments are also useful to reduce progressionof the toenail infection

When to see a doctor?

Only mild cases of ingrown toenails can heal on their own. Try the remedies listed in the previous section and wait. If you don’t notice any improvement after 2-3 days, you must schedule an appointment at a foot and nail clinic.

Only a few doses of over the counter painkillers are advisable. Don’t try to treat the toenail yourself, especiallywhen swelling increases and excessive inflammation leads to pus or blood oozing from the toenail.

Timely medical care is necessary to reduce the risk of severe infection and extensive surgical treatment.

Timely consultation is recommended because mild cases can be addressed easily with oral and topical antibiotics. If you wait and make the condition worse, the last option becomessurgical removal of the nail.

What happens during ingrown toenail surgery?

A Foot Doctor performs ingrown toenail surgery when the toenail is severely infected and inflamed. There are two types of surgeries performed for ingrown toenails.

Partial nail avulsion
Complete nail avulsion

In partial nail avulsion surgery, only the edge of the affected toenail is removed. Whereas, complete nail avulsion includes the removal of the entire nail plate along with the underlying nail bed. Here is what you can expect when you schedule an appointment for a toenail surgery.

It is a minor surgical procedure that can be completed within an hour.
The surgery is performed under the effect of local anesthetic, therefore it is totally pain free.
After the unwanted nail growth is removed, a sterile dressing is applied to the toe.
The dressing is replaced after 2 days and then you can go back to your routine activities.
The entire healing period for toenail surgery is between 2-4 weeks depending on your age and healing ability.
Ingrown toenail surgery is safe and effective and considered useful for everyone experiencing more severe symptoms. Certain medical reasons might affect your ability to undergo surgical intervention e.g. diabetes

Why is surgery the best option for ingrown toenail?

The word surgery might send a shiver down the spine, but the removal of an ingrown nail plate is a minor surgical procedure and there is nothing to be afraid of.

It is considered the best choice because the success rate is higher for this treatment. When an ingrown toenail heals on its own, the chances of reoccurrence are higher. Some people have to deal with ingrown toenail conditions on a monthly basis. Every time they trim their nails, they experience pain, inflammation and swelling.

To avoid such conditions permanently, surgical intervention is the best choice. Partial nail avulsion is 98% effective in preventing the recurrence of ingrown toenails.

It is important not to delay treatment. While waiting for the at-home remedies to work, you might actually be making your condition worse. Therefore, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as you observe a problem. Visit the link given below to schedule a toenail surgery or personalised sore feet treatment from the experienced podiatrists in Noosa, Cooroy, Gympie, BliBli, Pomona, Imbil and Tin Can Bay.