ABSTRACT

Ingrown toenail is a public health problem widely seen in all age groups. If ingrown toenails are not treated properly, permanent nail and toe deformities may occur. Staging of ingrown toenails is made according to presence of erythema, edema, pain, drainage, infection, granulation tissue and lateral nail wall hypertrophy. Treatment selection is made according to clinical stage. Expectations from therapeutic procedures can be listed as complete relief of symptoms, absence of recurrence, decreased post-operational pain, drainage and infection risk, minimization of healing time, cosmetically proper outcomes and patient satisfaction. General precautions are wider shoe wearing, proper nail trimming, and warm foot baths. Widely performed non-invasive treatments can be specified as taping, insertion of cotton wisps and plastic tubes, and application of nail braces. Surgical treatments are partial and total nail avulsion, procedures for the lateral nail fold, surgical and chemical matricectomies and combinations of them. Generally surgical methods are more effective than non-invasive ones. Most effective and safe procedures are the surgical and chemical matricectomies targeting nail matrix. Ingrown toenails can be successfully treated by dermatologists.