Ah, ingrown toenails. It never ceases to amaze our patients when we remove that ingrown piece of toenail how such a small piece of nail can cause such immense pain – not to mention swelling, redness and often, the infection that follows when it is left untreated.
As one of our top five conditions that we see and treat every day here at My FootDr, here’s the low-down on ingrown toenails, why you may be getting them multiple times, and how you can fix that problematic toenail today – permanently.
Ingrown toenails can feel like having a small needle permanently stabbing your toe. Just replace the needle with a sharp nail spike, and the description is pretty accurate. Every step you take, you feel the pain. Your discomfort is aggravated by wearing shoes, and in some cases, even resting a bed sheet over your feet.
We treat a lot of ingrown toenails every day, and the majority of these are preventable. That is, they were caused by something the patient has done unknowingly, as opposed to uncontrollable genetic causes.
Today, the My FootDr team have shared their top three simple things you can do to address these common self-inflicted causes – as well as how to permanently fix this painful problem.
bracenfix™ is a revolutionary non-surgical, pain-free way to restore the natural shape of the nail as it grows.
bracenfix™ is a revolutionary Ingrown Toenail Treatment designed to address ingrown toenails without the need for surgery or discomfort. This innovative system utilizes a hardened composite material that is cured by an LED light, effectively acting as a brace on the nail plate. By maintaining the correct shape as the nail grows from the base to the end, it reshapes the pathway for new nail growth.
Once applied, the bracenfix™ system remains in place for approximately 2-3 months. As the toenail grows, bracenfix™ moves with it, aiding in the correct positioning of the toenail. Additional bands can be applied during this period to ensure the desired outcome.
bracenfix™ acts as braces for your teeth would. The brace supports the nail as it grows, acting as a guide supporting the nail and preventing it from curling. As soon as it’s applied, bracenfix™ causes the nail to contract, resulting in instant pain relief which continues to improve as the nail grows.
Yes, bracenfix™ is covered under private health insurance (Item Number F344).
bracenfix™ can be applied in a standard consultation.
You will typically experience some immediate pain relief after application, and a further reduction in pain after 2-3 days.
In 80-85% of patients, bracenfix™ successfully reshapes the nail’s alignment and restores natural growth.
bracenfix™ is suitable for patients with diabetes and/or who have poor circulation as bracenfix™ is applied externally on top of the nail.
Yes, you can can resume daily activities as normal.
Yes, bracenfix™ is fully waterproof.
Have you been watching your toes over these summer months and feeling unhappy with how they look?
While some people turn to a salon pedicure to help hide their toenails, a study that used ultrasound to observe the effects on nails when having a gel polish manicure found nail weakness, brittleness and nail thinning. This leaves two options: continue with pedicures indefinitely – or have to eventually deal with nails that are even more damaged than when you started. Or – you can start to improve the appearance of your nails today by using these five podiatrist-approved methods.
Read moreEver wondered if your nails grow at the same speed? Our toenails grow 2-3 times slower than our fingernails! It’s very important to cut and look after toenails correctly to avoid ingrowing and infections, otherwise you’ll be waiting a while for the nail to grow out.
It’s estimated that 50% of ingrown toenails in kids and adolescents are caused by nail cutting technique. Usually if our patients are suffering from ingrown toenails and have poor cutting technique, we observe the following:
These issues are easily preventable by always cutting the nails straight across with nail scissors.
Our podiatrists offer ingrown toenail treatment so make sure to make an appointment if you, or someone you know is suffering.
If you are experiencing ingrown toenails, it is time you visited a My FootDr to keep your nails pain free and healthy.Ingrown toenails, medically known as onychocrytosis, is a common condition that impacts people of all ages. An ingrown nail is caused by a piece of nail protruding from the side of the nail sulcus skin, or into the nail bed itself. This allows for the entry of bacteria into the area which can cause an infection in the toe.
The pain can begin as moderate and progress to severe if the affected toenail becomes infected. The pain can develop so severely that simple tasks such as walking can become painful and limit your ability wear enclosed shoe and participate in sporting activity. The edges or corners of the nail grow into the skin, making the area tender, sore, and often cause redness and bleeding. Read more
Hello, my name is Dean, and I am a podiatrist at the My FootDr clinic in Bathurst. I am an extremely passionate clinician with a focus on providing high quality patient-centred care. I strive to bring compassion and understanding to my consultations by catering to your individual history, interests, and lower limb health concerns. Read more
Jessica graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Podiatry in 2017. She is a Redlands local, growing up in the area. She has been practising across the Redlands since completing her studies. She can be found across the Cleveland and Gumdale My FootDr clinics.
Jessica has always aspired to have a career in allied health and finds helping her patients with their lower limb concerns incredibly rewarding. She enjoys all aspects of podiatry and has a particular interest diabetic foot care and preventing lower limb complications, treating ingrown toenails and managing musculoskeletal conditions.
Jessica is keen to keep up to date with new research and treatment options and is currently an active member of the Australian Podiatry Association.
Outside of work, Jessica can be found exploring the best brunch spots and spending time with her family, friends and her dog Winnie.
Ingrown toenails, also known as onychocryptosis, are a common and painful complaint. A true ingrown toenail is when a spike or edge of nail pierces the skin at the nail edge. This is known as the sulcus and can cause inflammation and even lead to infection.
There are a variety of factors that can cause ingrown toenails. The most common cause is due to improper cutting of your toenail and leaving a spike of nail in the sulcus. It can also be a result of a curved nail, known as an involuted nail, from external pressure.
If you are experiencing pain, redness, and swelling around your toenail, it may be time to consider seeing one of our podiatrists. With over 30 years of combined experience in treating foot and ankle conditions, we have successfully treated many cases of ingrown toenails. Read more
Wenn grew up in Malaysia and obtained her Bachelor degree of Podiatry from the University of South Australia in 2019. She previously worked at Western District Health Service Hospital (WDHS) in Victoria and Stirling in Perth as part of a multidisciplinary team. Wenn has also completed work placements in SA, NSW and Singapore, providing her with a unique range of experience in the Podiatry industry.
Since graduation, Wenn continues to upskill herself in various manual therapies such as joint mobilisation, dry needling and myofascial release. She is interested in all aspects of podiatry, particularly musculoskeletal conditions and ingrown toenails (both conservative and surgical treatments).
She munches on food, plays badminton, hikes and attends gym sessions in her spare time. Wenn is passionate about getting people to be fitter with better feet.