Ingrown Toenail – Care & Treatment in Bathurst and Lithgow

What are Ingrown Toenails?

Toes are the first line of defence for your feet. We do a lot of walking in our day-to-day without realising the danger of stress or damage that may occur. Improper care, hygiene and trauma to the feet can result in ingrown toenails.



Ingrown toenails are caused due to distress, disorders or damage to the nails on your feet. This is usually observed occurring on the big toe but can affect the smaller toes as well. An ingrown toenail is a full nail or a portion of the nail that grows into the skin or penetrates the skin’s surface causing pain and discomfort.

A few common reasons for ingrown toenails include: 

• Improper trimming 
• Tight-fitting footwear
• Incurvated nails
• Chubby toes 

In some cases, ingrown toenails can also be due to disorders that may require surgical correction. Due to any of the above reasons, if your skin is broken, it is highly advisable that you consult your doctor or a podiatrist to prevent further trauma to your skin and future complications. 

What to do: 

Here is what you can do to prevent further damage and repair ingrown toenails:



• Bathe the foot in salty water for 5 minutes daily
• Gently push cotton wool under the front edge of the nail to lift the nail
• Gently tape the skin away from the nail, only covering the bottom half of the toe 
• Apply a loose antiseptic dressing to the toe



If the toe is still sore after 2 days of performing this self-care routine, please consult your doctor or talk to us for professional care and treatment at Bathurst Podiatry.