Abstract
Ingrown toenails and pincer nails are commonly encountered in dermatological practice. As no standardized treatment systems exist, especially among clinics, several treatments are currently provided according to the technical levels of each medical institution. Since the opening of our clinic in 1997, we have continuously used our ingenuity to provide short-lasting, low-cost, highly effective, and painless treatments. This study analyzed a total of 306 new patients (101 men and 205 women) with ingrown toenails or pincer nails, who visited our clinic in 2022. Based on the history of previous treatments and the age at onset, it was considered appropriate to classify ingrown toenails into the following four types: type 1 (ingrown lateral edges of the nail plate; n = 34), type 1G (type 1 with granulation tissue; n = 36), type 2 (ingrown lateral tips of the nail plate; n = 76), and type 2G (type 2 with granulation tissue; n = 18). Pincer nail was classified as type 3 (n = 135) and type 3G (pincer nail with granulation tissue; n = 6). There was 1 case classified as ‘other.’ Statistical and clinical analyses were performed using this classification. The mean age of the patients was 27.8 years in type 1 (including type 1G), 41.0 years in type 2 (including type 2G), and 62.6 years in type 3 (including type 3G). At our clinic, all these types are treated with conservative therapy with carbon dioxide laser as the first-line treatment. The use of laser to bend an ingrown or pincer nail allows us to reduce the treatment duration and costs. Our cases have been reported in this article.
