Quick guide
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.

It may be worth considering when…

The nail repeatedly becomes ingrown despite appropriate care and footwear.
Pain, swelling or inflammation persists because the nail edge continues to penetrate the skin.
Repeated infections or overgrown granulation tissue develop.
The problem significantly interferes with footwear, sport or daily activity.

What is important to understand

A common procedure is partial nail avulsion under local anaesthetic.
A chemical such as phenol may be applied to reduce the chance of that edge regrowing.
Antibiotics alone do not correct the mechanical problem when a nail edge continues to penetrate the skin.

Questions worth asking

What exactly are we treating or trying to change?
What are my alternatives?
What improvement should I expect?
How will we know whether it has worked?

When not to wait
Spreading redness, fever, significant pus, severe pain or infection in a person with diabetes, poor circulation or immune suppression requires prompt clinical assessment.

The Footpath Health approach

Footpath Health is designed to help you move from a symptom or question toward an appropriate next step without pretending that an online article can make an individual diagnosis. Sometimes that next step is self-management; sometimes it is podiatry, physiotherapy or GP assessment; and sometimes imaging or specialist care is appropriate.

Still not sure what the right next step is?

Tell Footpath Health what is bothering you and we can help guide you towards the most appropriate type of healthcare professional.

Start the Footpath Health assessment →