Ingrown Toenail
Painful, recurring, often infected — and almost always treatable for good with the right approach.
Conservative care for new or mild presentations; permanent surgical correction with phenolisation for severe or recurrent cases. 98% success rate.
What ingrown toenails are — and why they recur
Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) develop when the side of the nail penetrates or pushes into the surrounding skin. The skin reacts with inflammation, often becomes infected, and can develop granulation tissue (the red lump that forms beside chronic ingrown nails).
Common causes include: incorrect cutting (rounded edges), tight footwear, trauma, naturally curved or "involuted" nail shape, or fungal nail infection altering nail growth.
Why ingrown toenails recur: conservative care addresses the symptom but not the underlying nail shape. If your nail is genetically curved or pincer-shaped, it will keep ingrowing. The only definitive solution for recurrent ingrowth is to remove the offending nail edge permanently — that's what nail surgery with phenolisation does.
Common symptoms
Conservative first, surgical when it's the right answer
Most first-time, mild ingrown toenails respond well to expert conservative care: skilled removal of the offending spike, careful nail shaping, antiseptic care, and footwear guidance. We deliver this routinely.
But for nails that keep coming back — or where the nail shape is fundamentally driving the problem — surgical correction with phenolisation is the definitive answer. 98% of patients in our Belfast clinic don't need the procedure repeated on the treated edge.
At your assessment we determine which approach is right for your toe.
Nail Surgery
Permanent solution for recurrent ingrown toenails. Local anaesthetic, phenolisation, post-op review. 98% success rate.
Frequently asked questions
Should I try home care first?
If this is your first ingrown toenail and it's mild, gentle home care (warm salt soaks, careful nail cutting, breathable footwear) can resolve it. If it's recurring, infected, or severely painful, see us — we can resolve it more comprehensively and avoid escalation.
Is nail surgery painful?
The procedure itself is performed under local anaesthetic — pain-free during. Some discomfort is normal once the anaesthetic wears off; standard over-the-counter pain relief is sufficient for most patients.
How long is the recovery?
Most patients are off work 1–3 days depending on occupation. Return to full activity (sport, swimming) typically by week 3. Daily dressing changes for the first 1–2 weeks.
Will the nail look weird afterwards?
After a partial avulsion (most common procedure) the nail just looks slightly narrower — most people don't notice. Cosmetic outcomes are discussed at your pre-surgical assessment.