Ingrown toenails are a result of the borders of toenail applying excessive pressure on the surrounding skin. This pressure may even lead to a break in the skin and subsequent infection. Ingrown toenails may result from tight fitting shoes, trauma, improper nail trimming, abnormal nail structure or fungal infection.
Treatment may be as simple as trimming the corner of the nail. If the area has become infected, this may require trimming the nail border and removing any infected tissue under local anesthetic and/or oral antibiotics. A recurrent or chronic ingrown toenail may need to have the side of the nail permanently removed. These procedures are performed in the office and rarely result in loss of work.