An ingrown toenail is when the nail grows into the skin at the sides of the nail. This irritates the skin, often creating redness, swelling and pain.

If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection, which can lead to pus draining from the area. If this has occurred, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed on referral to your doctor.

How does a podiatrist treat ingrown toenails without surgery?

At The Foot Group we use an innovative new product called Onyfix to painlessly resolve your ingrown or involuted toenail.

Developed in Germany, the Onyfix nail correction brace system uses a substance similar to a dental ceramic. Our podiatrist will prepare your toenail surface, apply and sculpt the Onyfix former directly just above the nail cuticle, and harden it with blue light. The whole process takes just a few minutes and is completely painless.

As the toenail grows, the Onyfix brace moves up, gradually pushing the sides of the nail back to their natural shape, also without any pain.

If the ingrown toenail is more advanced or severe, our podiatrist may opt for in-clinic toenail avulsion surgery.