Ingrown Toenails

[DubaiSis]

I had one surgically repaired. A few notes:
don't EVER let a pedicurist cut down the side of the toenail. You're just inviting disaster.
You'll feel like a huge dork going to the doctor, but they see them ALL THE TIME. Suck it up and head in there.
I wouldn't have a pedicurist "fix" an ingrown toenail. They are really not to be messed with.
Once you have it fixed, make sure you are only seeing highly reputable pedicurists after that. If there's any question at all about their hygiene practices, no cost savings in the world is worth it.
Stop wearing shoes that don't fit!

To give you a little background on my repair, first the doctor had to get rid of the infection. I soaked my toe in Betadyne every day for a couple weeks. Then he numbed the toe, cut off a chunk of skin (I suppose all the inflammation had caused too much skin to grow around the nail), and then cut off a piece of toenail that was hidden under the skin that was about 1 cm wide. No pedicurist would have ever been able to get that deep without practically sending me into shock from the pain. And then I got a couple stitches. I don't remember exactly but it was 2 or 3.

And finally, my Dad who has skin cancer AND diabetes always suggests this rule of thumb: if you have a thing and it doesn't get better in 3 days, go to the doctor.