Mehiläinen Töölö · Helsinki
Treatment for a painful nail
An ingrown nail or inflamed nail fold? I examine the toe and assess whether local care, partial nail removal or another procedure is appropriate.
Care route
Where should I seek care?
This is not an emergency department. At the appointment the aim is to examine the situation and decide the next sensible step: self-care, medication, a minor procedure, tests or referral.
Book an appointment
- ingrown nail or recurrent nail fold inflammation
- pain, discharge or granulation tissue at the nail edge
- difficulty wearing shoes or walking
- need to assess whether a procedure is the right solution
Mention diabetes, blood-thinning medicines and circulation problems when booking. A stable nail problem is not an emergency solely because of diabetes.
Seek urgent assessment
- Spreading redness, fever or rapidly worsening pain and swelling.
- A wound with darkening tissue, severely impaired circulation or suspected deep infection.
- Diabetes, reduced sensation or immunosuppression together with an ulcer, spreading infection or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Call 116117 if you are unsure where to go or cannot get timely care. Do not wait for an appointment if your condition worsens.
Call 112
For severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, new stroke symptoms or another life-threatening situation.
During the visit
What is assessed during the visit?
- whether the issue is the nail edge, nail fold, nail base or wider infection
- whether partial nail removal, sometimes total nail removal or phenol treatment is appropriate
- instructions for local care, dressings and pain relief
- when follow-up or further assessment is needed
Treatment options
Local care or a nail procedure?
The examination guides the choice between local care and a procedure. Usually only the troublesome nail edge is removed, but sometimes the whole nail needs removal. Phenol may be used to reduce recurrence from the same edge when appropriate.
Booking details
What is useful to mention about a nail problem?
- which toe or finger is affected and whether the pain is at the nail edge or the nail base
- how long it has lasted and whether it recurs at the same spot
- whether there is pus, granulation tissue, spreading redness or pain that affects walking
- whether you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation or a previous foot ulcer
An ordinary side-edge problem and retronychia at the nail base are different. Treatment is chosen only after the painful and pressing area is seen.
After the visit
Your treatment and follow-up
Aftercare following a nail procedure — read and print
Contact Mehiläinen Töölö if your care instructions are unclear.
Sources
What this page is based on
Website content: Markus Huotari, general practitioner. The sources below provide background information.