Ingrown toenails are common, especially on the big toes. The nail grows into the skin, which forms a lateral border. The affected area becomes inflamed and painful.
An ingrown toenail can be very painful when walking and standing. Open-toed shoes and wide stockings can reduce pressure on the inflamed nail.
Treatment for an ingrown toenail depends on the severity of the problem. For mild inflammation with little pain, the toe is first soaked in a soapy foot bath and the ingrown portion of the nail is trimmed away.
Disinfectant and anti-inflammatory tinctures or ointments then help to heal.
An additional possible appointment serves to check whether the entire ingrown nail part has been removed and the pain is gone.
Furthermore, nail braces can help to let the nail grow freely again. The podiatrist can use various brace techniques to make corrections to ingrown toenails. The brace is individually adjusted according to the nail plate and fixed to the nail edges. The resulting material tension relieves the often painful nail fold.
The advantage over surgical methods is the immediate pain relief. The constant pull of the brace results in a permanent correction of the nail and the nail bed. The duration of the therapy is about 10-14 months, depending on the condition of the nail.
