How Toenail Fungus Can Lead to Ingrown Toenails (and How We Treat Both Issues)

Onychomycosis and onychocryptosis are the medical terms for two common foot problems — toenail fungus and ingrown toenails, respectively. On their own, toenail fungus and ingrown toenails aren’t necessarily medically serious, but when they gang up against your feet, they can wreak no small amount of havoc.

Between 3% and 12% of the general population gets toenail fungus, and one’s risk for this common infection increases with age. When it comes to ingrown toenails, they account for about 20% of foot problems. 

Toenail fungus and ingrown toenails are not only very common but also co-occur with regularity, and the two send more than a few patients to see us for treatment. Here at Advanced Ankle & Foot, our team includes a podiatric specialist, Dr. John Schopp, and a nail restoration specialist, Danielle Schopp. Between our two experts, we can make quick work of both ingrown toenails and toenail fungus.

Why toenail fungus and ingrown toenails are connected

There are a couple of reasons why people who have toenail fungus frequently develop ingrown toenails, including:

Toenail fungus changes the shape and thickness of your toenails

One of the first things that happens when you have toenail fungus is that your nails turn yellow/white and thicken when the fungus gets into the nail matrix. When this occurs, your toenails can change shape and become much thicker, leading to ingrown toenails.

Toenail regrowth

If your toenail keeps crumbling and breaking because of a fungal infection, it tends to grow out from a much lower position on the nail bed, giving it more opportunity to grow into the fleshy sides of your toes. 

You may also be prone to both issues, and it’s a coincidence that you have both at the same time. 

Solutions for ingrown toenails and toenail fungus

If you’re dealing with toenail fungus, our first line of defense is antifungal medications, which you take for about three months. These medications are usually effective in clearing up fungal infections, but it’ll take some time before your nail is in the clear.

The damage and changes you see in your toenails due to toenail fungus don’t go away, and you have to wait for them to grow out. During this time, you should see Danielle for regular medical pedicures so that she can:

• Monitor your fungal infection
• Trim away damaged nail
• Prevent ingrown toenails from forming
• Restore your toenails so that you can bare your feet

If your toenail fungus doesn’t respond to medications, we may remove the nail in its entirety, which will also resolve any ingrown toenail issues. Here again, we can keep a close eye on your toenail as it grows out to ensure that you don’t run into issues with the new nail growing into the flesh and creating a painful ingrown toenail.

While you wait for your new toenail to grow out, Danielle can help with the cosmetic side of the equation and create a restoration nail that looks great and allows your natural nail to grow underneath.

As you can see, our team can resolve both issues—toenail fungus and ingrown toenails—and they work together to ensure that your feet look and feel great throughout the process.

For top-notch care of your fungal infection and any ingrown toenails that develop, we invite you to contact our office in Columbus, Georgia, to schedule an appointment.