If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail, you will know that they can be very painful. They can also cause nasty complications, including infection in the bone of your toe and ulcers. Fortunately, they can be treated. So, if you suspect that you have an ingrown toenail, here is what you need to do.
What Are Ingrown Toenails?
Ingrown or ingrowing toenails occur when the edges or corners of your toenails grow into the skin around the nail. This is most likely to happen to your big toe. Early signs include swelling and tenderness in the skin next to the nail, pain when pressure is applied to the toe, and fluid accumulating around the affected area. If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment promptly. Left untreated, the condition can worsen and lead to infection. Infected toenails may cause increased pain, visible bleeding, and the presence of pus.
What Are The Treatment Options For An Ingrown Toenail?
It is possible to treat an ingrown toenail at home. You can do this by soaking your feet in warm, salty water for 15-20 minutes four times a day – and ensuring that your feet are kept dry for the rest of the time. If the symptoms don’t alleviate after a few days – or if they worsen – you should make an appointment with a podiatrist.
The podiatrist will be able to assess the severity of your ingrown toenail and recommend treatment options. These will depend on the cause of your ingrown toenail.
If you need surgery, this could be in the form of a partial or full nail removal. With a partial nail removal, only the piece of nail that is digging into your skin is removed. Full nail removal may be required if your ingrown toenail is caused by thickening.
After surgery is complete, your podiatrist will tell you what you need to do to care for your nail and avoid infection. It is important to follow these instructions carefully.
What Can I Do To Avoid Getting Ingrown Toenails?
To reduce your risk of developing ingrown toenails, it’s important to trim your toenails straight across, taking care not to let the edges curve inward. Avoid cutting your nails too short, as this can encourage the nail to grow into the surrounding skin. Wearing shoes and socks that fit properly is also crucial, as tight footwear can place unnecessary pressure on the toes and increase the likelihood of a nail becoming ingrown.
There are several very practical lifestyle changes you can make that will reduce your risk of developing an ingrowing nail or having one recur.
The first thing to consider is your shoes. Make sure your shoes fit you properly. They should allow enough room for you to wiggle your toes around without being smushed together. When your shoes don’t fit – particularly if they’re very tight around the toes – you’ll find you’re far more likely to develop ingrowing nails.
Keeping your nails properly trimmed, while avoiding cutting your nail on a diagonal, or too short will also help. Always trip your nails straight across. This prevents them growing improperly into your nail bed. You’ll need to be particularly careful about this if you’re diabetic.
How To Tell If Your Ingrown Toenail Is Infected
It’s not unusual for an ingrown toenail to become infected, particularly if the nail pierces your skin and causes an open wound. Ingrown toenails can also lead to debris becoming embedded in your nail bed, and issues with your cuticles, all of which can lead to infection.
You can usually tell very easily if an ingrown toenail has become infected. If your nail is bleeding, this is often an early sign of infection. You may also notice that the nail is oozing, or that there is a build up of fluid around the affected nail. Heat or warmth around your nail bed is also a sign of infection, as is overgrown or inflamed tissues around your toenail’s edges.
Swelling, throbbing, and pain in and around your toe as well as pressure under the toenail or hardening and redness around it are also signs of an infection. More acute symptoms include an abscess that has filled with puss around the jagged edge of your nail where it punctures the skin, or a foul smell. Thick, yellowing or cracked nails can also indicate a fungal nail infection.
For more information check out our infected ingrown toenail guide.
Home Remedies vs. Professional Treatment: What Really Works?
When dealing with ingrown toenails, many people turn to home remedies first. Soaking the foot in Epsom salts, applying apple cider vinegar, or using cotton wool to lift the nail are common suggestions. While these can offer short-term relief, they rarely cure the problem completely. In fact, relying solely on these remedies may delay proper treatment and increase the risk of infection.
For mild cases, home remedies for ingrown toenails may help reduce inflammation and ease discomfort. However, if the nail is embedded deeply in the skin or there’s any sign of infection, professional intervention is essential. Attempting to cut or dig out the nail yourself can make the issue worse.
The safest course is to use warm saline soaks and wear open-toe or well-fitting shoes for temporary relief, then consult a podiatrist. They can assess the root cause—whether it’s improper trimming, tight footwear, or nail shape—and recommend appropriate care. While natural remedies for ingrown toenails are popular, they should never replace medical advice.
Ultimately, the most effective cure combines initial self-care with tailored podiatric treatment. This ensures the condition is properly resolved and helps prevent it from coming back.
How to Cure an Ingrown Toenail Safely and Effectively
If you’re searching for how to cure an ingrown toenail, it’s important to understand that true resolution often requires more than just pain relief. The key to long-term success lies in identifying the cause, treating the symptoms, and preventing recurrence.
Mild ingrown toenails may respond to conservative treatment at home—such as regular warm salt soaks, antibacterial cream, and gentle lifting of the nail edge. But for more persistent or painful cases, professional care is essential. A podiatrist may perform a partial nail avulsion, which involves removing the portion of nail growing into the skin. In some cases, a chemical like phenol is applied to prevent regrowth in the affected area.
This combination of surgical and chemical methods is often the most reliable way to cure ingrown toenails. It’s quick, performed under local anaesthetic, and offers a high success rate.
Aftercare is just as important. Keeping the area clean, dry, and bandaged reduces the chance of infection and speeds up healing. Most patients recover fully within a few weeks.
If you’re dealing with recurring problems, getting expert advice is crucial. Learning how to cure an ingrown toenail properly will save you pain and prevent long-term issues.
When Ingrown Toenail Treatment Becomes Urgent
Treating ingrown toenails quickly can make all the difference—especially if you have an underlying condition like diabetes, poor circulation, or a history of infection. In these cases, even a minor issue can escalate rapidly, so it’s important to know when to act.
If you experience increased pain, swelling, or visible signs of infection such as redness, pus, or a foul odour, treatment should be sought immediately. This is particularly true if the skin around the nail is broken or if you notice warmth radiating from the toe. These are signs the body is fighting an infection that may require antibiotics or minor surgery.
Delayed treatment of an ingrown toenail can lead to more serious complications like cellulitis or abscesses. For people with diabetes, the risks are even higher, and foot issues should never be ignored.
The good news is that urgent ingrown toenail treatment is straightforward and effective. A podiatrist can relieve pain, remove the offending nail edge, and provide a care plan to keep the area healthy.
If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies as urgent, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Swift professional care is always better than waiting and risking further damage.
Understanding Post-Operative Complications in Ingrown Toenail Treatment
When it comes to treating ingrown toenails, understanding post-operative complications is crucial. Recent studies have shown varying outcomes depending on the treatment method. For instance, using phenol instead of trichloroacetic acid can reduce oozing post-surgery. Interestingly, adding curettage to chemical matrixectomy has been associated with a decrease in infection rates, despite an increase in bleeding. These findings highlight the importance of discussing potential post-operative complications with your podiatrist to choose the best treatment plan for your specific case.
Pain Management: A Key Aspect of Treatment
Dealing with post-operative pain is a significant aspect of ingrown toenail treatment. Various studies have reported different levels of pain based on the type of surgical procedure performed. For example, nail bracing has shown higher pain levels compared to matrix excision at certain post-operative stages. This emphasizes the importance of a tailored pain management plan post-treatment, which should be a part of your discussion with the healthcare provider. Detailed insights into these studies can be found in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.
What Should I Do If I Have Concerns?
If you are worried that you might have an ingrown toenail, or if you have an ingrown toenail that is not healing properly, you should make an appointment with a podiatrist. They will be able to treat your foot and give you advice to avoid this occurring again in the future.
At Northwich Foot Clinic, we are experts at treating ingrown toenails. You can book an appointment online. We’re easily accessible from across the North West, and we look forward to helping you.
FAQs
What are some effective home treatments for ingrown toenails?
Treatment at home can include soaking your feet in warm, salty water, gently lifting the nail, and using over-the-counter creams. However, if symptoms persist, it’s advisable to consult a podiatrist.
How can a podiatrist help with ingrown toenails?
A podiatrist can offer professional treatments such as partial or full nail removal, depending on the severity. They can also provide guidance on preventing future occurrences.
What are the best methods to treat ingrown toenails?
The best methods include conservative home care, medical treatments like antibiotics for infections, and in severe cases, surgical interventions. Always seek advice from a healthcare professional for appropriate treatment.
What should I expect during ingrown toenail treatment from a podiatrist?
During treatment a podiatrist may perform minor surgery to remove part of the nail, apply a local anesthetic, and provide aftercare instructions to prevent recurrence.
Can ingrown toenails be prevented?
Yes, ingrown toenails can often be prevented by trimming your nails straight across, wearing properly fitting shoes, and maintaining good foot hygiene.
What are some signs that I should visit a podiatrist for my ingrown toenail?
If you experience severe pain, redness, swelling, or signs of infection like pus, it’s important to visit a podiatrist.
