Which doctor treats the ingrown toenail?

If you have an ingrown toenail, you should first of all consult your family doctor. He can make an initial assessment of the condition. Slight inflammations can be treated by a medical chiropodist and do not require medical treatment.

More severe inflammations, however, require treatment. A conservative treatment is usually carried out by a dermatologist (dermatologist). In the case of chronic inflammation, however, only a minor surgical intervention is usually helpful, which is usually performed by a general surgeon.

Prognosis for an ingrown toenail

Even if this clinical picture often involves a vicious circle, the chances of recovery are good even with conservative therapy, especially if one pays attention to preventive measures and the patient cooperates well. Otherwise, the therapy can be very lengthy or lead to complications.

Complications

If the inflammation is not contained in time, it can lead to an ever deeper inflammation that can reach down to the bone, which is called osteomyelitis. Especially in diabetic patients, poor foot care and untimely therapy can lead to amputation of the big toe.

Pain, healing and sick leave with an ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail can be a very painful affair for the person affected. However, how severe the pain is depends on the extent of the inflammation and the respective pain sensation. In some cases, even wearing socks or a blanket at night can be unbearable for the affected person.

Mild inflammations usually do not hurt as much and are quickly overlooked or neglected in everyday life. Therefore, many affected people only go to a doctor when the inflammation has already progressed. The healing process also depends on the extent of the inflammation.

A conservative treatment, especially treatment with nail braces, can take several months. With surgery, healing occurs within a few weeks. A sick note is usually not necessary. However, this depends on individual factors such as the type of job and the exact activity.

How long does the healing take?

The duration of the healing of an ingrown toenail can be quite different. The course of the disease depends on various factors such as the extent of the inflammation. The type of treatment also plays a role.Some inflammations in an ingrown toenail can persist for months until the person affected sees a doctor.

Conservative treatment, for example with a nail brace, can also take several months. Surgical therapy in the form of an operation on the toenail provides immediate relief. The healing process is usually uncomplicated and takes only a few weeks.