Onychomycosis
01. Assessment and Diagnosis
When you attend her clinic with an ingrown toenail, Dr Evans will begin by assessing the severity of the condition. She will examine the toe and may order X-rays if the ingrown toenail is chronic or particularly severe (sometimes a bone growth on the toe can cause nail deformities resulting in ingrown nails).
02. Treatment Plan
Depending on the severity of the ingrown toenail, Dr Evans will work with you to create a treatment plan. This plan may include conservative management or, in more severe cases, surgical intervention.
03. Conservative Management
In mild cases, Dr Evans may recommend conservative treatment options, such as soaking the foot in warm, soapy water and gently brushing the edges of the nail to remove debris, or using foot lotion to soften callus in the nail sulcus. She is also licensed to prescribe antibiotics if there is an infection.
04. Ingrown Toenail Surgery
If the ingrown toenail is severe, recurrent, or associated with an infection, Dr Evans may advise a minor surgical procedure. This procedure may involve removing a portion of the toenail, a procedure known as a partial nail avulsion. In some cases, we may need to remove the entire nail (total nail avulsion). In either case, the root (or matrix) of the nail is destroyed to prevent regrowth and permanently solve the recurrent problem.
05. Education and Prevention
Nail care and footwear choices can impact the occurrence of ingrown toenails. Dr Evans will provide advice on both nail trimming techniques and appropriate shoe selection.
06. Monitoring and Follow-Up
For chronic or recurrent cases, Dr Evans may schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor the condition and ensure that it does not worsen.