An ingrown toenail may begin as mild tenderness along the edge of a nail, but it can quickly make walking, exercising, working, or wearing shoes uncomfortable. For active Utah residents, even a small toenail problem can interfere with hiking, skiing, running, gym workouts, or a long day on your feet.
Mild cases sometimes improve with careful home care. However, increasing pain, swelling, drainage, or recurring symptoms may mean that the nail needs professional treatment. A Foot & Ankle Specialists of Utah can examine the toe, check for infection, and recommend treatment based on the severity of the problem.
What Is an Ingrown Toenail?
An ingrown toenail develops when the side or corner of a toenail presses into or grows through the surrounding skin. The big toe is affected most often, although any toenail can become ingrown.
Common symptoms include:
- Tenderness along one or both sides of the nail
- Pain when wearing shoes or walking
- Red or irritated skin
- Swelling around the nail
- Warmth near the affected area
- Bleeding or drainage
- Skin growing over the edge of the nail
When the nail breaks the skin, bacteria may enter the area and cause an infection. Early attention can help prevent a minor problem from becoming more painful or difficult to treat.
What Causes an Ingrown Toenail?
Ingrown toenails can develop for several reasons. In many cases, pressure from footwear or incorrect nail trimming gradually pushes the nail into the skin.
Common causes and contributing factors include:
Cutting the Nail Too Short
Trimming a toenail below the end of the toe can encourage the surrounding skin to fold over the nail. As the nail grows, its edge may become trapped in the skin.
Rounding the Nail Corners
Toenails should generally be trimmed straight across. Rounding or digging into the corners can leave a sharp nail edge that grows into the skin.
Tight Shoes and Socks
Shoes with a narrow toe box can press the toes together and place repeated pressure on the nail. Hiking boots, ski boots, running shoes, work boots, and athletic cleats may contribute when they are too tight or do not fit correctly.
Toe Injuries
Stubbing your toe, dropping something on it, or repeatedly striking the front of a shoe can damage the nail and change how it grows.
Naturally Curved Nails
Some people inherit toenails that curve downward at the edges. This nail shape may make recurring ingrown toenails more likely, even with proper foot care.
Thick or Damaged Nails
A thick, brittle, or fungal toenail may be more difficult to trim safely. Changes in the nail’s shape can also increase pressure against the surrounding skin.
Can an Ingrown Toenail Be Treated at Home?
Home care may be reasonable when the symptoms are mild and there are no signs of infection. It is not appropriate for everyone.
If you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced feeling in your feet, or a weakened immune system, contact a healthcare professional instead of trying to treat an ingrown toenail yourself. These conditions can make infections harder to notice and wounds slower to heal.
For an otherwise healthy person with a mildly irritated toe, the following steps may provide temporary relief:
- Soak the foot in comfortably warm water several times a day.
- Dry the toe carefully after each soak.
- Wear sandals or shoes with a wide, roomy toe box.
- Reduce activities that place repeated pressure on the toe.
- Keep the foot and nail clean.
- Monitor the toe for increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or drainage.
Home care should lead to gradual improvement. If the toe remains painful or begins to look worse, schedule a professional evaluation.
What Should You Avoid Doing at Home?
Trying to dig out or remove the nail yourself can injure the surrounding skin, introduce bacteria, and make the problem worse.
Avoid:
- Cutting deeply into the side of the nail
- Tearing or pulling off the nail corner
- Cutting a V-shaped notch in the middle of the nail
- Repeatedly trimming the painful nail border
- Using unsterilized tools on the toe
- Attempting to drain an infected area
- Ignoring worsening symptoms because the pain is still manageable
Over-the-counter products may temporarily reduce discomfort, but they do not correct a nail edge that is continuing to grow into the skin.
When Has Home Care Stopped Working?
It may be time to see a podiatrist when the toe does not improve after several days of careful home care or when symptoms continue to return.
Schedule an evaluation if you notice:
- Pain that is persistent or getting worse
- Redness that spreads beyond the nail
- Increasing swelling or warmth
- Pus, drainage, bleeding, or an unpleasant odor
- Skin growing over the nail edge
- Difficulty wearing shoes or walking normally
- An ingrown toenail that repeatedly returns
- Fever or other signs of illness
Do not wait for severe pain before seeking care. Some people with neuropathy or reduced sensation may have a significant nail problem without feeling much discomfort.
Who Should Seek Professional Care Promptly?
Home treatment is generally not recommended when an ingrown toenail affects someone with:
- Diabetes
- Peripheral neuropathy or reduced foot sensation
- Poor circulation
- A weakened immune system
- A history of slow-healing foot wounds
- An active infection around the nail
People with these conditions have a greater risk of complications. Prompt evaluation allows a podiatrist to inspect the toe and recommend care before the problem progresses.
How Does a Podiatrist Treat an Ingrown Toenail?
Treatment depends on how deeply the nail has entered the skin, whether an infection is present, and whether the problem has happened before.
Your podiatrist will examine the nail and surrounding tissue. Mild cases may be treated by carefully freeing or trimming the painful nail edge. If the nail is more deeply ingrown, a minor in-office procedure may be recommended.
During the procedure, the podiatrist typically numbs the toe with a local anesthetic before removing the affected side of the nail. You should not feel the nail removal once the toe is numb, although you may feel pressure or movement.
For a recurring ingrown toenail, the podiatrist may treat part of the nail root so that the troublesome edge is less likely to grow back. If an infection is present, additional care or medication may be recommended based on the examination.
Learn more about professional ingrown toenail treatment.
What Should You Expect After Treatment?
Your podiatrist will provide instructions based on the procedure performed. These may include guidance about changing the bandage, cleaning the toe, choosing footwear, limiting certain activities, and watching for signs of infection.
Some tenderness or drainage can occur during healing. Contact the office if you develop worsening pain, spreading redness, increasing swelling, fever, or drainage that concerns you.
Follow the specific instructions provided by your podiatrist rather than relying on general online advice, because recovery needs can differ from one patient to another.
How Can You Help Prevent Another Ingrown Toenail?
Not every ingrown toenail can be prevented, especially when the natural shape of the nail is the primary cause. However, good nail and footwear habits may reduce your risk.
Trim Toenails Straight Across
Use clean, sharp nail clippers and avoid rounding the corners. Leave the nail long enough to reach the end of the toe rather than cutting it extremely short.
Choose Shoes With Enough Toe Room
Your toes should be able to move without pressing against the sides or front of the shoe. Check the fit of athletic shoes, work boots, hiking boots, and ski boots carefully.
Protect Your Toes
Wear suitable footwear during work, sports, and outdoor activities. Replace shoes that are damaged or no longer fit correctly.
Ask for Help With Nail Care
If you cannot see, reach, or safely trim your toenails, ask a qualified healthcare professional for help. This is particularly important if you have diabetes, neuropathy, or circulation problems.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment Across Utah
Foot & Ankle Specialists of Utah provides evaluation and treatment for painful, infected, and recurring ingrown toenails. Our podiatrists serve patients from communities across northern Utah and the Salt Lake Valley.
Care is available at our offices in:
Choose the location most convenient for you and contact the office for current appointment availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an ingrown toenail go away on its own?
A mildly irritated nail may improve when pressure is removed and the nail is allowed to grow normally. A nail that is deeply embedded, infected, or repeatedly ingrown may not resolve without professional treatment.
Can I cut out an ingrown toenail myself?
You should not dig into the nail or attempt to remove the painful edge yourself. This can damage the skin, worsen the ingrown nail, and increase the risk of infection.
Does an ingrown toenail procedure hurt?
The podiatrist typically uses a local anesthetic to numb the toe before removing the affected nail edge. You may experience temporary soreness after the numbing medication wears off.
Can an ingrown toenail return after treatment?
Yes, an ingrown toenail can return. If the problem is recurring, your podiatrist may discuss treating part of the nail root to reduce the likelihood of regrowth along that edge.
Should someone with diabetes treat an ingrown toenail at home?
No. People with diabetes should contact a healthcare professional promptly about an ingrown toenail, particularly when there is redness, swelling, drainage, broken skin, or reduced sensation.
Do Not Let Toe Pain Limit Your Day
An ingrown toenail is easier to address before pain and inflammation become severe. If home care is not helping, the nail keeps returning, or you notice signs of infection, request an evaluation with Foot & Ankle Specialists of Utah.
Schedule an appointment at a convenient Utah location and take the next step toward walking comfortably again.