An ingrown toenail is when the border or side of your toenail breaks through the skin next to it which eventually leads to a skin infection or cellulitis. The skin becomes swollen, red and painful. Sometimes you will see pus draining from underneath the nail.

Treatment at home consists of soaking the foot or toe in warm water and a tablespoon of Epsom salts or antibacterial soap twice a day for fifteen minutes. The area should be covered with a bandaid and antibiotic ointment at all times.

If home therapy doesn’t resolve the infection the border will need to be removed surgically. This is a simple procedure performed in the office with local anesthesia to numb the toe. Recovery involves soaking for 7-10 days and wearing a bandaid and antibiotic ointment.

More serious cases may require taking oral antibiotics and sometimes the entire nail needs to be removed temporarily.

If it is a recurrent situation where the nail continues to become ingrown every six months or more, then a permanent procedure is performed to prevent regrowth of the nail border.

Here’s a video of Dr. Campitelli performing the procedure in the office.