3 Mistakes People Make When Treating Ingrown Nails 

When an Ingrown Toenail (Onychocryptosis) strikes, the instinct to perform “bathroom surgery” is overwhelming. But grabbing the tweezers is the fastest way to turn a simple podiatry visit into a severe infection.

At Batavia Foot Care Center, we focus on the facts, not fads or trending “hacks.” With that in mind, this blog covers three ingrown myths that might be putting you at risk.

Myth 1: “Cutting a ‘V’ in the top of the nail will fix it.”

The Truth: This is an old wives’ tale that refuses to die. 

• The theory is that cutting a “V” notch in the center of the nail will force the edges to grow inward to fill the gap. This is biologically impossible.
• Toenails grow from the root (the matrix) beneath your cuticle, not from the tip.
• Cutting a “V” does absolutely nothing to change the growth pattern at the base of the nail; it just leaves you with a jagged, ugly toenail.

Myth 2: “I can just dig the corner out myself.”

The Truth: Standard nail clippers are not designed for precise corner removal. 

• When you try to snip the ingrown edge yourself, you almost always leave a tiny, jagged nail splinter behind, deep in the corner. 
• As the nail grows, this splinter acts like a dagger, piercing deeper into the soft tissue. 
• Using non-sterile tools also introduces bacteria, leading to swelling, pus, or other complications.

Myth 3: “Soaking it in Epsom salt will cure the infection.”

The Truth: Warm Epsom salt soaks feel soothing and can temporarily reduce inflammation. That said, no amount of salt water will magically dissolve the jagged piece of nail that is harming your skin!

Until that “splinter” is removed, infections will keep returning!

Myth 4: “Just Put Some Cotton Under It”

The Truth: This one might be the least logical of all. 

• Putting cotton under the affected nail will do nothing to relieve pain. 
• It will also create a shelter for bacteria to grow, increasing the odds of infection!

The Fact-Based Fix

The professional solution takes about 15 minutes and offers permanent relief.

• We gently numb the toe (you feel pressure, but no pain). 
• We then safely remove only the offending border of the nail.
• If you suffer from chronic ingrowns, we can apply a chemical to the root of that specific corner (a Matrixectomy) so that the edge never grows back, curing the problem permanently while keeping your nail looking normal.

Bottom line? Put the bathroom clippers down! Come see us for relief that lasts instead.

You can always count on Batavia Foot Care Center to care for your feet using a full range of therapies and treatment options. Dr. Dawn K. Dryden serves patients of all ages in Batavia, New York. Contact our office to schedule an appointment!