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Fabienne Rottenberg, DPMUpper West Side PodiatryBook on Zocdoc

Ingrown toenails · In-office treatment

Ingrown toenail treatment that lets you walk out comfortable.

An ingrown toenail can turn a short walk into misery, and digging it out at home often makes it worse. Dr. Rottenberg numbs the toe, removes the edge of nail that is cutting in, and can stop that edge from growing back if it keeps returning. It is usually done the same visit.

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Board-certified foot surgeon · FACFAS · Mount Sinai faculty · English, French, Hebrew & Spanish

Podiatrist examining a patient’s foot
Usually treated the same visitNumbed and quick

Information from the practice of Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and Clinical Instructor in Orthopedics at Mount Sinai. Updated . This page is general information, not a diagnosis.

Book a visit if…

  • The side of your toenail is digging in and painful
  • The toe is red or swollen along the nail
  • The same nail keeps becoming ingrown
  • Your child or teenager has a painful toenail

Call the office first if…

  • There is pus, spreading redness or a fever
  • You have diabetes or poor circulation
  • You have already tried to cut it out and it is worse
  • The toe is very painful to touch

Why it happens

Why toenails grow in.

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail presses into the skin beside it. Nails cut too short or rounded at the corners, tight shoes, a stubbed toe and naturally curved nails all make it more likely. Once the skin is broken, infection can follow.

The treatment

What happens in the office.

The toe is numbed with a small injection. The numbing stings briefly, then you should not feel the procedure. Dr. Rottenberg removes the narrow strip of nail that is growing into the skin, leaving the rest of the nail in place.

If the same edge keeps growing in, the root of that strip can be treated so it does not grow back. You walk out in your own shoe or a roomy one, with simple instructions for soaking and dressing at home.

  • Usually done the same visit
  • Most people return to normal shoes within days
  • A follow-up check makes sure it is healing well

Your options

Ingrown toenail treatment options

The right option depends on how painful the nail is, whether it is infected, and how often it comes back.

Nail trimming and care advice

For mild cases, correct trimming and shoe advice can be enough.

Partial nail removal

The ingrown edge is removed under numbing, usually in a single visit.

Permanent correction

For nails that keep growing in, the root of the edge is treated so it does not return.

Infection care

Treating infection around the nail, with antibiotics when they are needed.

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg

Who treats you

Dr. Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, FACFAS

  • Usually treated in the same visit, under local numbing
  • Permanent correction for nails that keep coming back
  • Treats adults, teenagers and children
  • Extra care for patients with diabetes or circulation problems

Telehealth available: some questions and follow-ups can be handled by video. Ask when you call.

Training, credentials and hospital affiliations

285 West End Ave at 73rd St · Mon–Thu, 9–5

Get relief from an ingrown toenail.

Most ingrown toenails are treated in a single visit. Call to be seen.

Call (212) 724-4457 Book on Zocdoc

Questions patients ask

Ingrown Toenails: common questions.

Your own answer depends on an in-person exam. Call the office if your question is not here.

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Does ingrown toenail removal hurt?

The numbing injection stings for a few seconds. After that, most people feel pressure but no pain during the procedure. Soreness afterward is usually mild.

Can I go back to work the same day?

Most people can, especially with a desk job. Wear a roomy shoe and follow the soaking instructions. Avoid hard running or tight shoes for a few days.

Will the nail grow back ingrown?

It can if the nail shape or trimming habits are the cause. If it keeps returning, a permanent correction stops that edge from growing back.

Do I need antibiotics?

Not always. Removing the edge of nail that is cutting in is the main treatment. Antibiotics are added when there are signs of spreading infection.

Should I cut it out myself?

Please do not. Cutting deep into the corner often leaves a sharp spike that grows in worse and can cause infection.

Do you treat children with ingrown toenails?

Yes. Ingrown toenails are common in children and teenagers. The same gentle, numbed procedure is used.

Related care

Other problems Dr. Rottenberg treats

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Bunions & Bunion Surgery

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Related reading

Articles on ingrown toenails

Sources

Further reading from medical organizations

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think you have an emergency, call 911.

Ingrown Toenails · Upper West Side

Get relief from an ingrown toenail.

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