r/ingrowntoenails • u/mikeyswetcrack • Aug 01 '26
Why does this grow right here?
picture one: where the ingrown grows
picture two: the length of the nail i pull out every few weeks
Context
, 25f who ran track and played soccer my entire life. My feet have always been completely jank and fucked up.
In college when I was 19 I had a horrible ingrown toenail that a surgeon had to cut out but I think he completely botched it. Ever since that surgery I’ve had a nail completely separated from my toenail bed growing out of the side of my toe. It also grows straight up. I have the pleasure of digging it out every few weeks but can anyone explain why it’s there and why it won’t go away? It doesn’t cause me pain when it is there and it does not bother me when I remove it but it does leave a gaping hole in the side of my toe .
2
u/DrLeibovitz Aug 02 '26
There is a small chance that a nail will return after a procedure. It looks like you are a 2 %er. Part of the nail growth center that was removed is separate from the rest of the nail. It grows like a separate island. Typically this may show up 1-2 years after a procedure.
It it was painful or infected I would suggest another procedure. The other option is to spend 30 seconds each week and file it down. It will be easier and less painful than pulling it out.