Infected toenail
Partial removal
Toenail surgery
If there are too many signs of inflammation: swelling, pain, and discharge present, you might say it's infected and needs to be treated by a doctor (see image below left). You may need to take oral antibiotics and the nail might need to be partially or completely removed (see the middle image below).
The doctor can surgically remove a part of the nail, part of its bed, some of the soft tissues next to it, and even a part of the growth center (see the right image below).
Surgery is effective in removing the nail's edge from growing inward and forward into the skin. Permanent removal of the nail might be advised for children with recurring and chronic infections of the ingrown toenail.
If you are experiencing a lot of pain and/or infection, your doctor might remove a part of the nail that has grown into the skin (partial nail removal). Your toe will be injected with an anesthetic, and the doctor will use scissors to cut the ingrown part without touching the nail bed. Exposure of the nail bed can be very painful. Complete removal of the ingrown nail (total nail bed removal) increases the chances that the regrown nail will be deformed. It may take 3-4 months for the nail to regrow.
If the problem is not congenital, the best way to prevent ingrown toenails is to protect your feet from injuries and to wear shoes and socks that fit well and are comfortable for your toes. Nails should be cut straight across with a clean nail clipper, without cutting the corners or edges of the nails. Trim nails no shorter than the tip of the toe. Keep your feet clean and dry at all times.
