Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Ottawa
An ingrown toenail can turn something as ordinary as putting on shoes into the worst part of your day. The edge of the nail presses into the surrounding skin, and what starts as mild tenderness can become redness, swelling and pain that makes walking uncomfortable.
You do not need surgery to get relief. At Becky & Co. Medical Foot Care, our Registered Nurses treat ingrown toenails using conservative, non-invasive techniques, including nail bracing, a painless correction method that very few providers in Ottawa offer.
What causes an ingrown toenail?
Ingrown toenails happen when the nail grows into the skin beside it rather than straight out over the nail bed. Common contributing factors include:
- Cutting nails too short, or rounding the corners rather than cutting straight across
- Shoes that press on the toes
- Naturally curved or involuted nail shape, which is often inherited
- Thickened nails that are difficult to trim at home
- Injury to the toe
Some people get one ingrown toenail once. Others deal with the same nail returning again and again, and that recurring pattern is usually a sign the nail's shape needs correcting, not just trimming.
How we treat ingrown toenails
Conservative nail care. For most ingrown toenails, we carefully trim out the offending edge to relieve the pressure and stop the nail from digging into the skin. This brings immediate relief in many cases. We also walk you through prevention: how to cut your nails, what to look for, and what footwear changes help.
Nail bracing. For curved nails and nails that keep becoming ingrown, trimming alone treats the symptom rather than the cause. A specially formulated composite resin is applied to the surface of the nail and hardens into a brace. As the nail grows, that brace gently guides it into a flatter, healthier growth pattern. Once the nail has corrected, the brace is removed.
What makes it different:
- No cutting, no needles, no surgery. Nothing is removed from the nail bed
- Painless to apply, and you can carry on with your day
- Works on thick, curved or brittle nails
- Safe for people with diabetes and other high-risk foot conditions
- Corrects the cause, so the problem is far less likely to keep returning
"I had ingrown toenails and Becky worked her magic and put braces on them in one visit. A couple days later, the pain was gone and my nails were good as new." — Adam, Ottawa
What to expect at your appointment
Every visit begins with a nursing assessment: the nail, the surrounding skin, your circulation, and any signs of infection. From there we clean the area with alcohol (no soaking needed), relieve the pressure, apply a brace if appropriate, and explain how to care for it at home. If the toe shows signs of infection needing medical treatment, we will refer you to your doctor.
Safe care for diabetic and high-risk feet
If you have diabetes, reduced circulation or reduced sensation in your feet, an ingrown toenail is not a minor issue. It is a break in the skin that carries real risk.
Our nurses are trained in advanced foot care for high-risk feet. All instruments are sterilized in an autoclave following Public Health Ontario's IPAC standards, and every nurse on our team is a Registered Nurse insured through the RNAO.
Please do not attempt to dig out an ingrown toenail at home, particularly if you have diabetes. Come and see us instead.
Booking and location
Clinic Queensway Medical Centre 300-5307 Canotek Road, Gloucester, ON K1J 9M2 Wheelchair accessible, free parking, just off the Montreal Road exit
Home visits across Ottawa, including Orleans, Gloucester, Vanier, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven and Stittsville.
Call (613) 746-6223 ext. 4 or email beckyandco.info@gmail.com
Common questions
Does treatment hurt? Relieving the edge of the nail usually brings relief rather than pain. Brace application is painless, with no cutting into the skin and no freezing required.
How long does nail bracing take to work? The brace works gradually as the nail grows, so correction takes place over several months. Pressure relief is usually felt immediately at the first appointment.
Do I need a referral? No. You can book directly with us.
Is it covered by insurance? Foot care is not covered by OHIP, but many extended health plans cover foot care provided by a Registered Nurse. We provide a detailed receipt for reimbursement, and we can direct bill Veterans Affairs Canada for clients with a valid K number. Current rates are listed on our FAQ page.
Can you treat an infected toe? We will assess it, relieve what we safely can, and refer you to your physician if the toe needs antibiotics or medical treatment.