This weekend I had a busy few days visiting family before the Christmas holidays.On Friday evening we all gathered for dinner at my house.

It was nice to see cousins, aunts and uncles who I wouldn't see as often. Definitely something I need to change in 2024.

The next morning I stepped out of bed and felt an excruciating pain in my big toe. The pain was unmistakably an ingrown toenail... 

As someone who doesn't generally suffer from ingrown toenails (and who has spent years training how to prevent them), this pain really took me by surprise.

I pondered how this could happen to someone who is so careful with footwear and cutting their nails, when I quickly realised the cause... 

Growing up, I distinctly remember an old aunt complaining of her ingrown toe nails. I watched in horror as she limped around the house, tea in hand, unable to bear weight on her sore toe.

In my innocence, I one day asked what was the cause of her ingrown nails, to which she replied 'my mother, it's all ahead of you'.

It was a humbling experience that my genetics had caught up with me and no matter my skill or knowledge. It shows that ingrown toenails can really target anyone.

Some common causes of ingrown toe nails can include:

• narrow footwear

• tight socks

• genetics

• trauma to the nail

• incorrect cutting of the nail

Luckily, ingrown toenails are a common podiatric issue which can be swiftly dealt with when you see the right professional and here at Peak Podiatry, we have just that!

To treat this irritating issue, our experts gently remove the ingrown part of the nail and advise the patient on the steps they can take to prevent reoccurance.

Sometimes the cause can be as simple as a tight pair of socks, other times, patients have a genetic predisposition to developing this issue and regular chiropody appointments can manage the nails, preventing future ingrowing and subsequent infection.

Whatever the cause, our experts are here to help you treat, manage and prevent ingrown nails. So why not pop in? You can book online at www.peakpodiatry.ie or give us a call on (091) 435 348.

And, while you're here on the hunt for foot advice, why not check out another one of our blogs like this one one thickened nails.

Yours in health,

The Peak Podiatry Team