How to deal with an ingrown toenail?

So, I’m dealing with this nightmare ingrown toenail... seriously such a pain. I've tried pretty much everything I could think of—from trying to rip it out myself (bad idea, obviously) to getting this massive pedicure that dragged on for like seven months, and honestly? It didn't even help that much. So, I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with this or knows any other ways to actually fix it? Or better yet, does anyone know a really high-quality podiatrist or nail tech somewhere who actually knows how to deal with them properly so I don't have to deal with this mess ever again? thanks!

granitebear7 said:I’ve been dealing with this nightmare of an ingrown toenail, and honestly, I feel like I’ve tried everything under the sun, from trying to rip it out myself—which was a mistake—to sitting through seven months of professional pedicures that barely made a dent in the problem, so I’m wondering if anyone actually knows of some other way to fix this or if there's a top-tier specialist out there who can actually get it done right so I don't have to deal with this misery ever again, thanks!

I went through the exact same ordeal for a long time, though things are okay for now, at least. I just stick to seeing a professional because I really don't want to mess things up by trying to DIY it... there's a salon called Nail Oasis over in San Francisco, so if you happen to be in that area, go see them because they were a lifesaver for me, though maybe you should just talk to a doctor if nothing else works, since surgeons can just step in and handle it, and apparently, it doesn't even hurt once it's over.

It would probably be helpful if you started by clarifying which nail you're talking about (I deal with issues on both my big toes) and how exactly it’s ingrowing.
Are you talking about the entire nail, or just that tiny little shard—you know, the one left behind from cutting them too short that just keeps growing until it starts hurting?
Has it become inflamed or infected yet?

granitebear7 said:I'm dealing with this nightmare ingrown nail. I've tried basically everything—from trying to pull it out myself to going for professional pedicures that lasted seven months straight, which honestly didn't do much at all. So, I was wondering if anyone knows any other ways to fix this, or if you can recommend a really great specialist who can handle it properly so I don't have to deal with this ever again. Thanks!

Man, I have no clue if the quality will be any better, but hey, I'm actually heading in tomorrow to get some threads pulled. My doctor didn't go for the whole nail or anything, he just, say, neatly trimmed off that right quarter and the little bit that was causing all the drama. Once he finished up the procedure, he looks at me all smug and goes, "Look at that! How could that possibly look bad?" And there I am, just staring down at my poor, mutilated, mangled toe... 😲. And then the doc is actually surprised that I'm not totally dazzled by his (less than stellar) handiwork. 🤣.

I saw quite a few people sitting in his office, and it seemed like they were all there for the exact same thing. I can't really give a final verdict on how the surgery turned out just yet, but I will say he was super careful during the actual process. I'll probably pop back in here later to let everyone know how the nail heals up.

So, I’ve got this ingrown toenail on my right foot... the skin is super inflamed and angry, but there’s no pus or anything gross yet. I actually went in for a procedure at a clinic back in Chicago, and honestly, it worked fine—until the nail started growing back again. It’s like a losing battle, you know?... Is it actually true that with certain surgeries, they can pull the nail out and make sure that part just stops growing forever?

granitebear7 said:I’ve got this issue with my right big toe—the flesh is inflamed, though there’s no pus or anything yet. I actually went in for a nail extraction at a clinic in Chicago, but it didn't really stick; it worked fine until the new nail started growing back in. Is it true that with certain surgeries, they can pull the nail and ensure that specific part just stops growing altogether?

Just pulling the nail doesn't necessarily fix the underlying issue forever—once the new nail starts its comeback, it can easily grow right back into the skin. One way people handle this is by having the doctor "scrape" away part or all of the nail root after the extraction. A friend of mine had his entire root scraped out, and now he just has this sort of "quasi-nail" growing in, which hasn't given him any trouble since. Depending on where the ingrown part is located, they might only scrape the side edge. Usually, this kind of procedure happens at an orthopedic clinic. Honestly, your best bet is to sit down and talk it through with a solid orthopedist.