Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Cagliari: Definitive Solutions
Restoring comfort and foot health.
An ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis) is a painful and often recurring condition. At Centro Eudermia in Cagliari we perform phenolisation, a definitive solution that is less invasive than traditional surgical techniques, indicated in particular for recurrent cases.
- Specialist assessment of nail shape and severity
- Phenolisation procedure under local anaesthesia
- Definitive solution for recurrent cases
- Personalised post-procedure guidance
Onychocryptosis, commonly known as an ingrown toenail, is a frequent condition in which the lateral edge of the nail (most often of the big toe) penetrates the surrounding skin, causing pain, inflammation, swelling and — in the most advanced cases — infection and the formation of granulation tissue.
At Centro Eudermia in Cagliari we treat ingrown toenails with the phenolisation technique, a definitive outpatient procedure, indicated in particular for recurrent cases.
Most Frequent Causes
Unsuitable footwear
Shoes that are too tight, pointed or have high heels exert constant pressure on the toes and can encourage deformation and ingrowth of the nail.
Incorrect nail cutting
Cutting the nails too short or rounding off the lateral corners causes the edge to grow into the skin instead of along the nail plate.
Individual predisposition
Nail shape, toe anatomy, local trauma and family factors can predispose to recurrent forms of onychocryptosis.
The Treatment
Phenolisation, a definitive solution that is less invasive than traditional surgical techniques
Conservative treatment
In the early stages, careful hygiene, topical anti-inflammatories and comfortable footwear may be enough to reduce pain and inflammation and slow progression.
Orthonyxia and corrective techniques
Non-surgical systems (elastic wire, orthonyxic brace, orthoplasty) that gradually correct the curvature of the nail and guide it to grow correctly.
Phenolisation
A definitive outpatient procedure indicated in particular for recurrent cases: removal of the ingrown portion of the nail and application of phenol to the corresponding matrix to prevent the problematic edge from regrowing.
Phenolisation
Under local nerve-block anaesthesia of the toe, the surgeon removes the portion of the nail plate that is growing into the tissue (usually a thin lateral strip), then applies 80-90% phenol to the corresponding nail matrix for a few seconds. The phenol destroys the matrix cells in that small portion, preventing the problematic edge from regrowing, while the rest of the nail continues to grow normally.
Advantages of the Technique
An outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia, a low recurrence rate, a generally very good aesthetic result, and the nail is largely preserved. Return to activity is faster than with traditional surgical removal techniques: you can walk in an off-loading shoe about 48 hours after the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Symptoms and Stages of an Ingrown Toenail
The condition typically progresses through three clinical stages.
Initial Inflammation
Tenderness, mild redness and swelling of the nail fold. The response to conservative measures (correct cutting, wide footwear, hygiene) is often good.
Infection
Increased pain, marked swelling, purulent discharge, sometimes a bad smell. At this stage conservative measures are often insufficient.
Granulation
Appearance of granulation tissue (hypertrophic reddish overgrowth), intense pain even at rest, possible chronic infection. Requires definitive treatment.
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“I waited 4 months before leaving this review. I wanted to be sure I had truly solved my problem. I suffered for 2 years and was seen by dermatologists who turned out to be useless, as they never gave me the right treatment — only a waste of time and money while my condition got w…”