Ingrown toenail & nail care · Portland
Painful ingrown toenail? Fungal nail? Get it treated this week.
Nail problems are among the fastest things a podiatrist fixes — most ingrown toenails are handled in the office, in a single visit, and fungal nails have real prescription-strength options that drugstore creams can’t match. Dr. Zac Egidi at Pearl Foot & Ankle currently has same-week openings in Portland.
★★★★★ 4.9 from 450+ reviews across our Pearl locations Board-Certified (ABFAS) OATH Surgery Center partner
Start here
Which nail problem brought you in?
Both are treated right here in our Portland office — and both get easier the sooner they’re looked at.
A painful, red, swollen nail edge
That’s an ingrown toenail — the nail edge growing into the skin beside it. It’s treated with a quick in-office procedure under local numbing, usually in the same visit as your exam.
Ingrown toenail removal ↓A thick, discolored, crumbly nail
That’s usually toenail fungus (onychomycosis) — an infection living under the nail plate. It won’t clear on its own, but there are honest, prescription-strength treatment paths.
Toenail fungus treatment ↓Ingrown toenail removal
A minutes-long office procedure — not a hospital event
If the edge of a nail (usually the big toe) has grown into the skin, no amount of soaking or “bathroom surgery” removes the piece that’s causing the trouble — digging at it typically leaves a spike behind that grows in deeper on the next round. In the office, the toe is numbed with one small injection — a pinch measured in seconds — and Dr. Egidi removes the offending nail edge cleanly at its base. You feel pressure, not pain, and you walk out the same day with a small dressing and simple aftercare instructions.
If the same toe keeps getting ingrown, a matrixectomy can be added in the same visit: the small strip of nail root that produces the problem edge is treated so that edge isn’t expected to regrow. It adds only minutes, and it’s the standard approach for repeat ingrown nails.
Want the full sensation-by-sensation walkthrough — including exactly what the numbing feels like? See our detailed ingrown toenail treatment page.
Toenail fungus treatment
Real options for fungal nails — with honest expectations
Fungal infections live under and inside the nail plate, which is why over-the-counter creams rarely reach them. Treatment is matched to how much nail is involved and your health history:
- Professional debridement — in-office thinning and trimming of the thick nail, which eases discomfort and helps medication penetrate
- Prescription topical antifungals — solutions formulated to penetrate nail, for milder involvement
- Oral antifungal medication — generally the most effective option for moderate-to-severe infections, with appropriate lab monitoring
- Confirming it’s actually fungus first — nail trauma, psoriasis, and age-related changes can mimic fungus, so testing before a long treatment course prevents months of treating the wrong thing
- A prevention plan — treating athlete’s foot, shoe rotation, and follow-up, since reinfection is the most common reason results don’t last
No fungal-nail treatment works overnight and none is guaranteed — Dr. Egidi will give you the real trade-offs of each option so you can choose with clear expectations. For the full breakdown (including why home remedies usually disappoint), see our toenail fungus treatment page.
Don’t wait on these
When to come in promptly
- Redness spreading beyond the toe, or red streaking up the foot
- Pus, drainage, or an odor from the nail edge
- Throbbing nail pain that keeps you up at night or makes shoes unbearable
- A discolored nail that’s spreading to more of the nail, or to other toes
- Any nail problem if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or numbness in your feet — small toe problems can become serious quickly and deserve prompt professional care
When in doubt, call — describing what you’re seeing takes two minutes, and we can often get you in the same week: (503) 284-2000.
Your surgical team
An experienced surgical team — with openings this week
Dr. Zac Egidi is a board-certified (ABFAS) foot & ankle surgeon with 8+ years in practice and hundreds of surgeries across the full scope of medical, surgical, and sports foot & ankle care. He was recruited to Portland to expand new-patient access, with open, same-week availability for Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Bethany, and the greater Portland area. Nail problems reward speed: an ingrown nail treated early is a quick office visit, and a fungal nail caught early has less nail to clear — so the fact that Dr. Egidi has openings this week, while many practices are booked out, matters. Pearl Foot & Ankle is an independent, board-certified practice with a 4.9★ reputation from patients who describe visits as thorough, unrushed, and clearly explained.
Zac Egidi, DPM
Board-Certified (ABFAS) Foot & Ankle Surgeon
- 8+ years in practice — hundreds of foot & ankle surgeries
- Full-scope medical, surgical & sports foot & ankle care
- Same-week new-patient availability
- Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine; surgical residency (chief resident), LECOM Health
Timothy Mineo, DPM, FACFAS
Founder · Dual Board-Certified (ABFAS)
- 1,500+ surgeries, including total ankle replacement
- Dual board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot & ankle surgery
- Founded Pearl Foot & Ankle and leads its surgical team
- Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
One practice, one team: every treatment plan — from a first office visit through surgery at our partner facility, OATH Surgery Center — is backed by both surgeons’ combined experience.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I be seen for an ingrown toenail or nail problem?
Dr. Egidi often has same-week openings at our Portland office at 12672 NW Barnes Rd #100 — convenient to Beaverton, Cedar Mill, and Bethany. Many ingrown toenails can be evaluated and treated in the same visit. Call (503) 284-2000 or book online.
I’m nervous about the numbing shot — how bad is it really?
It’s the most common fear, and the honest answer is: a brief pinch and sting measured in seconds, which most patients describe as milder than the pain that brought them in. After that the toe is completely numb — you feel pressure, not pain — and the procedure itself takes minutes.
How much does ingrown toenail removal cost?
Ingrown toenail treatment is a medical procedure, so for most patients it’s billed through insurance like any other office visit — your cost depends on your specific plan and deductible. Pearl Foot & Ankle is in-network with 200+ plans, and we’ll verify your benefits before your visit so there are no surprises. Call (503) 284-2000 with your insurance card handy.
Can I get an ingrown toenail treated the same day I’m seen?
Usually, yes. We’re an appointment-based clinic rather than a walk-in urgent care, but same-week openings are common — and when you’re seen, most ingrown toenails can be numbed and treated during that same appointment rather than scheduling a second visit. The fastest path is a quick call: (503) 284-2000.
Will the ingrown edge just grow back?
After a simple edge removal it can in some people. That’s what a matrixectomy addresses — the small strip of nail root that produced the problem edge is treated during the same visit so that edge isn’t expected to regrow. Dr. Egidi will recommend it when a nail has been ingrown more than once.
Should I see a podiatrist or my regular doctor for toenail fungus?
Either can prescribe antifungals, but a podiatrist adds what a prescription alone can’t: confirming it’s actually fungus before a months-long treatment course (nail trauma and psoriasis mimic it), debriding the thickened nail in the office so medication can reach the infection, and a foot-specific prevention plan so results last.
Why haven’t drugstore creams fixed my toenail?
Because the infection lives under and inside the hard nail plate, which blocks creams from reaching it. OTC antifungals work for athlete’s foot on skin, but nails usually need prescription-strength penetrating topicals or oral medication — prescribed after the diagnosis is confirmed.
Do you take my insurance?
Yes — Pearl Foot & Ankle is in-network with 200+ insurance plans, including Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Providence, Moda Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, PacificSource, and Medicare & Medicare Advantage — and every Pearl provider, including Dr. Egidi, is credentialed with these plans. Verify your plan instantly on Zocdoc, or call (503) 284-2000 and we’ll confirm your benefits before your visit.
Same-week booking
Stop putting it off. It’s usually one quick visit.
Book your visit online in real time through Zocdoc — pick the appointment slot that works for you, no phone tag. Prefer to talk to someone? Call us and we’re happy to help.
- New patients welcome
- Most insurance accepted
- Same-week appointments often available
- Beaverton · Cedar Mill · Bethany · Portland
Book a Same-Week Visit
See real-time openings and reserve your visit securely through Zocdoc, the practice’s online scheduler.
📅 Book Online with ZocdocPrefer to talk to someone?
📞 Call (503) 284-2000
Pearl Foot & Ankle · 12672 NW Barnes Rd #100, Portland, OR 97229 · (503) 284-2000
Mon–Fri 8–5 · Not an emergency service — for a medical emergency, call 911.
The information on this page is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice; it does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Appointment availability varies and is not guaranteed. Individual results vary. For a medical emergency, call 911.