Foot health: What to do about an ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail develops, usually on the big toe, when a corner of the toenail curves down and digs into the skin. The symptoms may include soreness, swelling, redness, and warmth. If the toenail breaks the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection. Eventually, skin may start to grow over the ingrown part of the nail.

You can do several things at home to treat an ingrown toenail. However, if you suspect an infection, or if you have diabetes, circulation problems, or numbness in the toes, skip the home remedies and see your clinician or a foot specialist immediately.

What causes an ingrown toenail?

There are many possible causes. One is trauma; for example, you stub the toe or drop something on it, or someone steps on it. Loss of the toenail, repetitive pressure from certain sports, a fungal infection, or psoriasis may be to blame. Thick or curved toenails (nails tend to curve more with age) are particularly susceptible, and some people have an inherited tendency to develop nail problems. Improper nail trimming — cutting the nail too short at the corners — may be implicated.

The risk of ingrown toenails is raised by wearing shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or too short. Women's high heels are a common source of trouble: Increased heel height transfers most of your body weight toward the front of the foot. The big toes are subjected to a lot of pressure and deforming forces over the years as a result of high heels, especially if you wear them consistently for a long period of time.

Home care: Keep it simple

If your symptoms are minor (the toe is irritated and red but not infected or very painful) and you don't have a complicating medical condition such as diabetes, you can start at home with conservative measures.

Soak the foot in lukewarm water two or three times a day for 15 minutes (count a shower as a soak). You can add Epsom salts if you wish, although there's no scientific evidence that this will improve pain relief or healing. Massage the skin at the side of the toenail (the nail fold), gently pushing it away from the nail. After each soak, dry your foot thoroughly. Wear sandals or other low-heeled open-toed shoes whenever possible. When you wear close-toed shoes, make sure the toe box (the front of the shoe) allows room for the toes to move freely. When the toenail grows out, cut it across in a line that mimics the curving line of the toe tip; do not round the corners down.

If you are not making any progress after a few days, contact your doctor's office. Your doctor can prescribe a topical corticosteroid ointment to apply after each soaking for up to two weeks.

In-office procedures

If the toenail becomes infected or isn't better after a trial of conservative care, you should see a podiatrist or other foot care specialist or a dermatologist. The clinician may need to remove the ingrown part of the nail.

If you have recurrent ingrown toenails, more extensive nail removal may be needed. In a commonly performed procedure called a partial nail avulsion, a narrow vertical strip of nail on the affected side (see illustration above) is cut, from the nail edge to the base of the nail, and removed. The clinician may also apply a chemical called phenol to the nail matrix (the area beneath the cuticle that produces nail-creating cells) to prevent nail regrowth. This can leave the toenail slightly narrower than it was previously. This procedure is usually performed in a clinician's office after a local anesthetic is injected into the toe.

After one of these procedures, the exposed nail bed is covered with a nonadherent dressing. (Bring an open-toed shoe or slipper to wear home from your clinician's office.) Most people return to normal activities (wearing an open-toed shoe) within a day or two. Consult your clinician about when you can return to vigorous exercise, such as jogging or aerobics.