Ingrown Toenail Repair

  An ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis, is a painful condition of the toe. It occurs when a sharp corner or edge of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. Pain and inflammation at the spot where the nail curls into the skin occurs first. Later, the inflamed area can begin to grow extra tissue or drain yellowish fluid. Any nail can become ingrown, but the condition is usually found in the big toe. Ingrown toenails are common in adults and adolescents but less common in children and infants. They are more common in men than in women. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can progress to an infection or even an abscess that could require surgical treatment. Tight-fitting shoes or high heels cause the toes to be compressed together and pressure the nail to grow abnormally. Improper trimming of toenails can cause the corners of the nail to dig into the skin. Nails should be trimmed straight across, not rounded. Disorders such as fungal infections of th