Q: I try to cut my nails straight across, but the corners remain sore.

A: Ingrown toenails can be frustrating problems. In simpler cases, the ingrown corner may need to be periodically trimmed back in the office to prevent it from becoming painful and infected. For some people who are not candidates for surgery, this (as well as shoes with a roomy toe box) may be the only option. For people with more severe, recurrent ingrown toenails, a permanent procedure may be performed in which the ingrowing corner of the nail is removed surgically in the office, and the nail root in that corner is chemically cauterized to prevent that corner from growing back. The procedure is minimally painful, and its success rate is about 95%.