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Ingrown nail causes. Ingrown Toenails: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatment Options

by alexxlab

What are the main causes of ingrown toenails. How can you prevent ingrown toenails at home. What are the most effective treatments for ingrown toenails. When should you seek medical attention for an ingrown toenail. How long does it take for an ingrown toenail to heal after treatment.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails: A Common Foot Problem

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the skin of the toe, causing discomfort and potential complications. This condition most commonly affects the great toe, but it can occur on any toenail. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for ingrown toenails is crucial for maintaining proper foot health and preventing recurrence.

Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails can result from various factors, including:

  • Poorly fitting shoes that put extra pressure on the toes
  • Improper nail trimming techniques
  • Foot or toe deformities
  • Injuries to the toe
  • Genetic predisposition to curved nails
  • Participation in sports or activities that stress the toes

Tight shoes are a leading cause of ingrown toenails. Even slightly tight footwear can create enough pressure to force the nail edge into the surrounding skin, especially during physical activities or prolonged walking.

Nail Trimming Mistakes That Lead to Ingrown Toenails

Improper nail trimming is another significant factor contributing to ingrown toenails. Common mistakes include:

  • Cutting nails too short
  • Rounding the nail edges instead of cutting straight across
  • Picking or tearing at the corners of the nails

These practices can cause the nail to curl and grow into the skin, leading to an ingrown toenail.

Recognizing the Symptoms of an Ingrown Toenail

Identifying an ingrown toenail early can help prevent complications and facilitate faster treatment. The primary symptoms include:

  • Pain around the affected nail
  • Redness of the surrounding skin
  • Swelling near the nail edge
  • Tenderness when pressure is applied
  • In some cases, drainage or pus if infection develops

Can an ingrown toenail heal on its own? While mild cases may resolve with proper home care, more severe or recurring cases often require professional treatment to prevent complications and ensure proper healing.

Home Remedies for Ingrown Toenails

For mild cases of ingrown toenails, several home remedies can provide relief and promote healing:

  1. Soak the affected foot in warm water 3-4 times daily for 15-20 minutes
  2. Gently massage the inflamed skin around the nail
  3. Keep the area clean and dry between soaks
  4. Place a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail edge to encourage proper growth
  5. Wear open-toed shoes or sandals to reduce pressure on the affected toe

Is it safe to use over-the-counter medications for ingrown toenails? While topical pain relievers may provide temporary comfort, they do not address the underlying issue and should not be relied upon as a sole treatment method.

Professional Treatment Options for Ingrown Toenails

When home remedies are ineffective or the condition worsens, professional medical intervention may be necessary. Treatment options include:

Partial Nail Avulsion

This procedure involves removing the ingrown portion of the nail:

  1. Local anesthetic is injected into the toe
  2. The ingrown part of the nail is carefully removed
  3. The nail typically regrows within 2-4 months

Antibiotics for Infection

If the ingrown toenail has led to an infection, oral or topical antibiotics may be prescribed to combat the bacterial growth and prevent further complications.

Matrixectomy

For recurring ingrown toenails, a matrixectomy may be performed. This procedure involves removing part of the nail matrix to prevent regrowth of the problematic portion of the nail.

How long does recovery take after professional treatment? Recovery time varies depending on the procedure, but most patients can resume normal activities within a few days to a week, with complete healing occurring over several weeks.

Preventing Ingrown Toenails: Essential Tips

Preventing ingrown toenails is often simpler than treating them. Follow these guidelines to reduce your risk:

  • Wear properly fitting shoes with adequate toe room
  • Trim toenails straight across, not too short or rounded at the edges
  • Keep feet clean and dry to prevent bacterial growth
  • Avoid picking or tearing at your nails
  • Use protective footwear during sports or activities that stress your toes

Should individuals with diabetes take special precautions regarding ingrown toenails? Yes, people with diabetes should be especially vigilant about foot care, including regular inspections and professional nail trimming if necessary, due to the increased risk of complications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Ingrown Toenails

While many cases of ingrown toenails can be managed at home, certain situations warrant professional medical attention:

  • Severe pain, redness, or swelling
  • Signs of infection, such as pus or fever
  • Diabetes or poor circulation in the feet
  • Recurring ingrown toenails despite proper care
  • Inability to perform daily activities due to toe pain

Prompt medical attention in these cases can prevent serious complications and ensure proper treatment.

Long-Term Management and Care for Healthy Toenails

Maintaining healthy toenails requires ongoing care and attention. Incorporate these practices into your routine:

  • Regular foot inspections to catch potential issues early
  • Proper hygiene, including thorough drying between toes after bathing
  • Using moisturizer to keep the skin around nails soft and pliable
  • Wearing breathable socks to reduce moisture buildup
  • Alternating shoes daily to allow them to dry completely between uses

Can certain dietary choices impact nail health? Yes, a balanced diet rich in biotin, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals can contribute to stronger, healthier nails, potentially reducing the risk of ingrown toenails.

By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for ingrown toenails, individuals can take proactive steps to maintain foot health and prevent this common but troublesome condition. Remember that while many cases can be managed at home, persistent or severe ingrown toenails should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to ensure proper treatment and prevent complications.

Ingrown toenail: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the skin of the toe.

An ingrown toenail can result from a number of things. Poorly fitting shoes and toenails that are not properly trimmed are the most common causes. The skin along the edge of a toenail may become red and infected. The great toe is affected most often, but any toenail can become ingrown.

An ingrown toenail may occur when extra pressure is placed on your toe. This pressure is caused by shoes that are too tight or fit poorly. If you walk often or play sports, a shoe that is even a little tight can cause this problem. Deformities of the foot or toes can also place extra pressure on the toe.

Nails that are not trimmed properly can also cause ingrown toenails:

  • Toenails that are trimmed too short, or if the edges are rounded rather than cut straight across may cause the nail to curl and grow into the skin.
  • Poor eyesight, inability to reach the toes easily, or having thick nails can make it hard to properly trim nails.
  • Picking or tearing at the corners of the nails can also cause an ingrown toenail.

Some people are born with nails that are curved and grow into the skin. Others have toenails that are too large for their toes. Stubbing your toe or other injuries can also lead to an ingrown toenail.


There may be pain, redness, and swelling around the nail.

Your health care provider will examine your toenail and ask about your symptoms.

Tests or x-rays aren’t usually needed.

If you have diabetes, nerve problem in the leg or foot, poor blood circulation to your foot, or an infection around the nail, see a provider right away. Don’t try to treat an ingrown nail at home.

Otherwise, to treat an ingrown nail at home:

  • Soak the foot in warm water 3 to 4 times a day if possible. After soaking, keep the toe dry.
  • Gently massage over the inflamed skin.
  • Place a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail. Wet the cotton or floss with water or antiseptic.

When trimming your toenails:

  • Briefly soak your foot in warm water to soften the nails.
  • Use a clean, sharp trimmer.
  • Trim toenails straight across the top. Do not taper or round the corners or trim too short. 
  • Do not try to cut out the ingrown portion of the nail yourself. This will only make the problem worse.

Consider wearing sandals until the problem goes away. Over-the-counter medicine that is applied to the ingrown toenail may help with the pain, but it does not treat the problem.

If this doesn’t work and the ingrown nail gets worse, see your family doctor, a foot specialist (podiatrist), or a skin specialist (dermatologist).

If the ingrown nail doesn’t heal or keeps coming back, your provider may remove part of the nail:

  • Numbing medicine is first injected into the toe.
  • The ingrown part of the nail is removed. This procedure is called a partial nail avulsion.
  • It takes 2 to 4 months for the nail to regrow.

If the toe is infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

After the procedure, follow any instructions for helping your nail heal.

Treatment usually controls the infection and relieves pain. The condition is likely to return if you don’t practice good foot care.

This condition may become serious in people with diabetes, poor blood circulation, and nerve problems.

In severe cases, the infection can spread through the toe and into the bone.

Call your provider if you:

  • Are not able to treat an ingrown toenail at home
  • Have severe pain, redness, swelling, or fever
  • Have diabetes, nerve damage in the leg or foot, poor circulation to your foot, or an infection around the nail

Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that you wear every day should have plenty of room around your toes. Shoes that you wear for walking briskly or for playing sports should also have plenty of room, but not be too loose.

When trimming your toenails:

  • Briefly soak your foot in warm water to soften the nail.
  • Use a clean, sharp nail trimmer.
  • Trim toenails straight across the top. Do not taper or round the corners or trim too short.
  • Do not pick or tear at the nails.

Keep your feet clean and dry. People with diabetes should have routine foot exams and nail care.

Onychocryptosis; Unguis incarnates; Surgical nail avulsion; Matrix excision; Ingrown toenail removal

  • Ingrown toenail

Dinulos JGH. Nail diseases. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif’s Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 25.

Grear BJ. Disorders of nails. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 88.

Marks JG, Miller JJ. Nail disorders. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks’ Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 21.

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Ingrown Nails: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

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Treatment of an ingrown nail

Home / Directions / Medical cosmetology / Treatment of an ingrown nail

Onychocryptosis, or abnormal growth of the nail plate, the edge of which literally sticks into soft tissues, causes a lot of inconvenience to its owner: from acute pain at the site of an ingrown nail to the inability to wear stylish dress shoes. Until recently, the only way to get rid of such a problem once and for all was surgery. Today, you can do without surgery, during which, more often, nails ingrown into soft tissues, which bring considerable suffering, are removed from the big toes. A non-surgical technique for correcting deformed and ingrown nails is called orthonyxia. It involves the use of a special bracket to correct the shape of the deformed nail plate, which raises the nail, reducing pressure on the nail fold, and prevents ingrowth. Such a brace is a small plate that absolutely does not interfere with the usual way of life and even playing sports.

Ingrown toenail treatment methods
The most versatile and popular corrective brace for 67 years since its invention is the Fraser brace. It is made strictly individually for each nail in the same way as mesh braces for correcting teeth. Only from thinner medical wire. The central part of the brace is fixed in the middle of the nail that needs correction, and the gradual pulling of the ingrown edge of the nail upwards is ensured by hooks clinging to the edges of the nail plate. The effectiveness of a well-performed correction with Fraser brackets is very high – the nails after it look “like new”, and the costs are much lower than when using most other models of corrective brackets.


What is the treatment of ingrown nails with staples?
The most important advantage of the ingrown toenail correction method with corrective staples is that it is a bloodless and painless procedure.

By eliminating the root cause of the problem, that is, by precisely calculated tension, the sharp edges of ingrown nails from the soft tissues they have injured, corrective braces relieve the pain and discomfort caused by it. A place damaged by an ingrown nail, especially with additional treatment with anti-inflammatory and bactericidal drugs, is quickly restored.

Once an ingrown toenail is corrected, it grows properly and looks natural and healthy.

Who should not have their ingrown nails corrected with staples?
Persons suffering from malignant and fungal diseases of the nails, orthonyxia is categorically contraindicated. Correction of ingrown nails should not be carried out by patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as people who have voids, hematomas, longitudinal cracks under the nails, or the horny plate of the diseased nail exfoliates too much.

Causes of ingrown nails

In 50% of cases, an ingrown toenail occurs on the big toes after injury. It can also be a one-time emergency: bruises, broken fingers, etc. As well as long-term traumatic circumstances: uncomfortable, too tight shoes, too elastic tights and socks that squeeze the tips of the nails.

In second place among the causes of the formation of ingrown nails in people who do not have a hereditary predisposition to this is a poor-quality pedicure, during which the side corners of the nail plates are cut off.

Anatomical features of the structure of the nail plates, flat feet, fungal and a number of other systemic diseases that affect the entire body (cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus) can also cause the nail plates to grow into the surrounding soft tissues of the fingers. Flat feet can also provoke an ingrown toenail.

Elderly people are especially prone to ingrown nails. With age, the nail plate thickens, and its edges may take an irregular shape. Timely pedicure and regular filing of the thickness of the nail with the help of special devices will help to avoid the occurrence of onychocryptosis.

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Ingrown nail – causes, symptoms, treatment (removal)

What not to do

Ingrown nail removal 90 003

Rehabilitation period after nail removal

An ingrown nail is a combined pathology of the nail plate and surrounding tissues. In this case, a pathological expansion of the growth zone of the nail occurs, its growth in the lateral direction, deformation and penetration into the soft tissues of the nail fold. This, in turn, leads to the formation of hypergranulations with the development of chronic inflammation.

The occurrence of an ingrown nail is promoted by factors of heredity, trauma, wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, and inflammatory diseases.

The first symptoms of an ingrown nail plate are pain, redness, and swelling of the nail fold.

Do’s and Don’ts

Patients, as a rule, cut the “interfering” corner of the nail on their own, which further injures the nail fold and provokes inflammation. Also unacceptable is self-medication – the use of ointments, including Vishnevsky ointment.

Ingrown toenail removal

In fact, the only way to get rid of an ingrown toenail is surgery. In an operation performed under local anesthesia, the surgeon radiosurgery removes both the ingrowing part of the nail and hypergranulation, and the cause of the disease – the expanded growth zone of the nail. Therefore, the risk of recurrence is minimized.

The operation is possible after the initial examination by the surgeon, its duration is about 30 minutes. Preoperative examination is not required.

Our clinic uses a radiosurgical method for removing skin neoplasms using the Surgitron apparatus.

Rehabilitation period after nail removal

After the operation, the patient needs to keep cold for 15-20 minutes to reduce possible bleeding, limit physical activity.

Taking painkillers – according to indications. In some, especially difficult, cases, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

Therapeutic lasers can be used during postoperative dressings to speed up and optimize healing.

The scars formed after the operation are hardly noticeable and do not cause any inconvenience to patients.

The author of the article:

Yuliy Sergeevich Gromov

Chief physician of “Polyclinika.ru” on Sukharevskaya, surgeon

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m.0003 m. Sukharevskaya

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Yuliy Sergeevich Gromov

Dear Yuliy Sergeevich! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the very competent, professional selection of medical personnel. I have been a patient at the clinic since January 2019. Very often I wrote words of gratitude to doctors who really sincerely love their work. Very attentive, good-natured attitude towards the elderly, sick people. I have 35 years of experience in public education, I also sincerely loved my work, all my students without exception! You are truly a leader WITH A CAPITAL LET!! (WHAT THE HEAD OF THE FISH, THERE WILL BE FINS (regulating movement)! 1. Gritsanchuk A. M. Cardiologist 2. Gavlia G. T. general practitioner 3. Shklyar A.A. gynecologist 4. Markelov G. V. Neurologist 5. Demina E. S. Neurologist 6. Bezverbnaya I.S. Physiotherapist 7. O.B. Kostrodymova Physiotherapist 8. Savilov I.P. urologist 9. Murashko A. A. Ultrasound doctor 10. Kukushkin V. N. Ultrasound doctor 11. Akhmedova E. F. Gastroenterologist. Endoscopist. Pleasantly pleased with the well-coordinated work of the staff, young professionals at the reception. The duty administrators, all young people without exception, very competently, at the highest professional level, make appointments with specialists by the day, by the hour, as per the schedule, as it suits me. And this is yours, as the head of the clinic, the result of such professional work young administrators. I also want to note the excellent work of the nurses in the treatment room (especially the nurse Zalina, unfortunately I don’t know her last name). Julius Sergeevich, you were able to pick up a very strong, professional team of kind, responsive professionals in their field!! I wish prosperity to my beloved clinic. To the entire staff of the clinic, good, good health, well-being and good luck in everything. With great respect! Your patient Rumyantseva Marina Dmitrievna. February 15, 2022

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