Ingrowing toenails are commonly seen in the clinic. They can be extremely painful when wearing shoes and walking.
They can present in a variety of ways and the tissues around the nail can become inflamed and infected.
Ingrowing toenails can occur on any toe, but it is the big toe (Hallux) which is most commonly affected.
The medical term used for an ingrowing toenail is onychocryptosis.
Ingrowing toenails can affect all ages, however, teenagers are particularly affected, which often related to increased sweating.
There are various stages of ingrowing toenails in the early stage the tissues around the nail become inflamed and sore. As they progress the nail can penetrate the skin, and create a portal for infection to get in.