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Ingrown Toenail
An Ingrown Toenail occurs when the side of a toenail begins to
cut through the surrounding skin which is referred to by doctors as the ungulabia or "nail lip."
This is often aggravated by tight socks and pointed-toe shoes.
If left untreated, the nail lip becomes red and sore and
frequently becomes infected. The most common treatment for ingrown toenails at Center for
Advanced Foot Surger y is as follows. After numbing the toe, the ingrown portion of the
toenail (the affected side only) is removed as is the portion of the nail "root" that caused the
problem. A chemical and laser beam are then used to dissolve the nail root cells of the ingrown
portion of the nail such that the ingrown portion of the nail will usually not return, but the
remainder of the nail (the normal portion) will grow normally. No skin incisions are required to
perform this procedure and patients generally wear their own shoes at all times. If infection is
present, the appropriate antibiotics are also prescribed.
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