Ingrown Toenail Treatments

You can make your very own ointment to help heal an ingrown toenail. Essential oils can help relieve pain and prevent infection. By putting this ointment directly on your toe, you can find some much-needed relief and and faster healing.

Cutting an Ingrown Toenail Yourself or at the Doctor’s, and When

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The common, curly ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail is a common condition. It usually affects your big toe.

Ingrown nails typically occur in teenagers and adults from 20 to 40 years old. The medical names for this nail condition are onychocryptosis and unguis incarnatus.

Part of the reason for these long wait times and short appointments is due to a nationwide shortage of physicians that is only getting worse. A report by the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that, due to population growth and specifically growth of the elderly population, the physician shortfall in the U.S. could reach 121,300 by the year 2030.

Let’s understand what’s happening with your toe so you can treat it successfully.

You’ll first want to take a closer look to decide how severely ingrown your nail is. You can often treat a slightly ingrown nail by yourself.

Here are steps you can follow for a mildly ingrown nail:

Disinfect all nail clippers, tweezers, cuticle sticks, and other pedicure tools with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and let dry.
Soak your foot in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes to soften the nail and skin. You can add Epsom salt, tea tree oil, or other disinfecting essential oils to the footbath. You can also try a vinegar foot soak.
Dry your foot and toes thoroughly with a soft towel.
Gently massage the skin around the ingrown toenail. This may feel uncomfortable.
Gently scrape the skin at the sides of the nail with a nail file or cuticle stick to remove any dead skin cells.

If the nail hasn’t curled all the way over or into the skin:

You might be able to encourage your toenail to unroll using your fingernail or a cuticle stick.
Wash your hands and clean under your fingernails before and after touching your feet.
Gently lift the edge of the toenail and put a small bit of cotton ball under the nail to encourage it to grow in a different direction not into the skin or nailbed.
Wear open-toed shoes or shoes with a wide toe box.
Monitor your nail’s growth and replace the bit of cotton as needed.

For a more ingrown nail, if the area around the nail isn’t infected:

Cut your toenail straight across with toenail clippers, keeping the nail long enough to get your fingernail under it; at least 1 to 2 millimeters at the white nail end.
Use a pair of tweezers to gently push a tiny piece of cotton or gauze into the corner of your toenail where it’s ingrown. This helps to make a space between the nail and the skin.
Cut the visible nail corner or the ingrown spur away to help relieve the pressure and pain. This may be easiest using precision toenail clippers, also sometimes called podiatrist grade clippers and toenail nippers.
Cleanse the area with tea tree oil or another disinfectant.
Wear open- or wide-toed shoes.

Your doctor, orthopedic surgeon, or podiatrist (a foot doctor) can treat an ingrown nail with a minor procedure, or in certain cases with surgery.

This typically involves numbing the toe or foot with an injection. The skin on top of the ingrown nail may be removed with a scalpel.

The ingrown nail section is then partly or completely removed. You will not feel any pain during the procedure expect for the injection.

If you have ingrown nails often, your surgery may include use of a laser or chemical procedure to remove a part of the nail bed permanently so that it no longer grows as wide.

Aftercare

Caring for your toe and overall health after the nail surgery is important. You want to make sure your toe heals properly and prevent infection.

After your surgery, you may need to:

Take antibiotics.
Take pain medication as needed (acetaminophen, ibuprofen).
Apply an antibiotic cream to the area twice a day or more.
Apply a numbing cream or anti-inflammatory cream if needed.
Keep the area clean and dry.
Wear loose or open-toed shoes or sandals.
Change the dressing on your toe as needed.
See your doctor or nurse for a dressing change if needed.
See your doctor for follow-up appointments.
Avoid excessive walking, jogging, or running for two to four weeks after surgery.
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables to help you heal well, and avoid smoking.

If you have a fungal nail infection you may need to take antifungal medication or apply a medicated cream to clear it up before your surgery.

Cutting your toenails correctly can help prevent an ingrown nail. Here are some tips:

Avoid peeling or picking at your toenails.
Cut your toenails straight across or in a shallow (sideways) oval shape.
Do not cut your nails too short — the top white part should still show.
Do not over-round or angle the edges of your toenails into a V-shape.
File your toenails down instead of clipping to avoid cutting them too short.
Keep the corners of your nails straight or very slightly sloped
Properly disinfect nail clippers, cuticle sticks, and other pedicure tools before and after use.
Use the right tools; foot doctors recommend using large nail clippers for the toes. This helps to make a clean, straight cut.

One way to prevent cutting your toenail too short is to keep it even with the top part (tip) of your toe.

It’s also important to avoid wearing shoes that squeeze or put too much pressure or stress on your toes. This includes high heels and narrow or point-toe shoes, and any shoes you use for walking, hiking, or running.

Check your toenails for any discoloration or bumpy ridges. This may be a sign of a fungal toe infection. See your doctor for treatment.

You can sometimes take care of an ingrown toenail yourself. However, if you have a chronic condition or an infection, treating it yourself may make it worse. An infection from an ingrown nail can spread to your foot, leg, or body. It can also infect the toe bone.

See a doctor if you:

have severe pain
see signs of an infection such as pain, redness, or pus on the toe
have a sore or infection anywhere on the feet
have diabetes or another chronic illness

Ingrown toenails happen when the side or top corner of your toenail grows in to the flesh around the nail. One or both sides of the big toenail can be ingrown.

This can happen when the nail becomes damaged, bent, or has been growing against external pressure. One example is if you wear the same shoes every day and those shoes compress your toes together or put pressure on the side of your toe and nail. Instead of growing straight, the toenail edge curls down, digging into the skin and flesh.

Several things can put pressure on or damage the nail, increasing the risk of an ingrown toenail. These include:

a fungal or bacterial infection in the nail
constantly sweaty or damp feet
damaged or torn nails
dry, brittle, or cracked nails
misshapen or deformed toenails
not trimming the nail properly
wearing high-heeled shoes
wearing tight, narrow, or poorly fitting shoes

Injuring your nail by stubbing your big toe can lead to an ingrown nail. Other causes include chronic illnesses or not getting the right nutrients in your diet for healthy nail growth. Family history or being on certain medications also increases your risk.

It can also simply be anatomical. The shape and size of parts of your toe may make you more prone to getting ingrown nails.

Ingrown nails are a common nail condition. See your doctor if:

you keep getting ingrown nails
it doesn’t improve
it causes too much pain.

Don’t try to treat it yourself if your ingrown nail is deep or infected.

Your foot doctor can show you the best way to cut your toenails to prevent an ingrown nail. Knowing what is causing your ingrown nail can help prevent it from happening again.

Additionally, talk to your doctor about the best types of nail clippers to use and the best footwear to keep your toes and nails healthy.

Last medically reviewed on September 4, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Heidelbaugh JJ, et al. (2009). Management of the ingrown toenail.
aafp.org/afp/2009/0215/p303.html
Ingrown toenails. (2018).
familydoctor.org/condition/ingrown-toenails/
N, et al. (2012). Ingrown toenails. DOI:
Khunger10.4103/0378-6323.95442
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Ingrown toenails.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails/symptoms-causes/syc-20355903
Rauch C, et al. (2014). Physics of nail conditions: Why do ingrown nails always happen in the big toes?
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1478-3975/11/6/066004
What are ingrown toenails? (n.d.).
apma.org/Patients/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=1522

Ingrown Toenail Treatments

Most ingrown nail problems can be prevented with proper grooming of the toes and by wearing better-fitting shoes.

In fact, if you have an ingrown toenail, chances are you can treat it at home, too. Here are some home remedies to try:

Soak your feet in warm water. Leave them in there for about 15-20 minutes. You can do this three or four times a day. It’ll make your toe feel less tender and can help with swelling.
Put dental floss or a cotton swab under your toenail. Once you’re done soaking your feet, put floss or cotton under the ingrown part of the nail. This will encourage it to grow above the skin.
Put on some antibiotic cream. Apply some antibiotic to your toe and wrap it up in a bandage.
Pay attention to your shoes. Think about what kind of shoes you’re wearing. If you can, stick with sandals, flip-flops, or other open-toed shoes until your toe heals.
Take pain medications. Over-the-counter options like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium can ease the pain.

If these home remedies don’t help with your ingrown toenail or you’re worried about it, it’s time to see a doctor. If you notice signs of an infection, like fever or red streaks on your skin leading away from the nail area, let your doctor know. They can prescribe an antibiotic.

If you have diabetes, there’s a higher chance an infected nail won’t heal properly.

Cutting an ingrown toenail

If the steps above don’t help, you shouldn’t try to remove an ingrown nail at home. Let your doctor look at it.

When the toenail grows out, make sure you trim it in a straight line. Don’t cut it too short or round the corners down.

Ingrown Toenail Medical Treatment

Your doctor will look at your toe to see if it’s ingrown. They may:

Lift the nail. The doctor might lift the ingrown nail and put a splint under it to relieve some pressure. When you get home, you’ll remove the splint, soak the nail, and put the splint back.
Cut away part of the nail. If the doctor has to do this, they’ll numb your toe with a shot first.
Remove the whole nail and some tissue. If your ingrown nail keeps coming back, this might be an option. The doctor will numb your toe first with a shot. They might remove the section that’s ingrown or your whole toenail. They may have to destroy the nail bed underneath the area so the nail doesn’t regrow or grows back thinner.

Your doctor might also suggest:

Antibiotics. You might need to take antibiotics in the form of a pill or as an ointment to put on your toe.
More comfortable shoes. If your shoes put too much pressure on your toes, you could get an ingrown toenail. Make sure you wear wide shoes that fit you and give your toes lots of space to move around.
A toe brace. This is a plastic or metal brace that goes over your toenail to relieve pain and pressure.

Sometimes an ingrown nail is caused by a fungus. A doctor can find out if you have a fungus and then offer treatment options.

Show Sources

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

American Academy of Family Physicians.

Mayo Clinic: “Ingrown toenails: Diagnosis & Treatment,” “Ingrown toenails: Symptoms & Causes.”

Harvard Health Publishing: “Foot health: What to do about an ingrown toenail.”

National Health Service (U.K.): “Ingrown toenail.”

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: “Ingrown Toenail.”

How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Toenail

If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail, you know the pain that it can cause. Not only that, but it’s annoying — we use our toes in some way or another as part of our usual daily movement, and this use and constant knocking seems to aggravate the nail even more. It makes the pain more noticeable and seems to last forever!

An ingrown toenail, or onychocryptosis, may occur at any age and is one of the mostly common toenail problems. It can be a painful condition that can easily become infected without proper care. While more studies need to be conducted, there are a few that suggest a slightly higher male-to-female ratio, particularly in the 14–25 age group; however, it can affect patients of any age.

There are multiple reasons why an ingrown toenail develops, including: (1)

improper nail-cutting technique
tight-fitting footwear
trauma
anatomical factors like thickening of the nail plate
a pincer-shaped toenail
pressure from abutting digits caused by hallux valgus or lesser toe deformities
the presence of a subungual exostosis
occasionally, the use of isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne

Something that’s often forgotten is that toenail fungus can become part of the problem too. Usually, nail fungus occurs when fungus enters the nail through a small trauma, such as a cut or break in the nail. Though often a misconception, nail fungus is not caused by poor hygiene. However, if you have an ingrown toenail, you need to be conscious of keeping the area clean. (2)

Luckily, there are many natural ways to get rid of an ingrown toenail on your own without needing a trip to the doctor. Let’s take a look at some more details on ingrown toenails and how to get rid of them.

How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Toenail

What is an ingrown toenail, and what causes it? It’s a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. Many anatomic and behavioral factors are thought to contribute to ingrown toenails, such as improper trimming, repetitive or inadvertent trauma, genetic predisposition, hyperhidrosis, and poor foot hygiene.

Ingrown toenails are classified into three categories: mild (stage 1), moderate (stage 2) and severe (stage 3). Mild cases are characterized by nail-fold swelling, erythema, edema and pain with pressure. Moderate cases are associated with increased swelling, drainage, infection and ulceration of the nail fold. The most severe cases of ingrown toenail exhibit chronic inflammation and granulation, as well as marked nail-fold hypertrophy.

Regardless, the result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Ingrown nails usually affect the big toe, though other toes can also be affected. Most often, ingrown toenails can be self-treated. However, if the pain is severe or spreading, you may need to check in with your doctor to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid further complications.

To understand how this condition happens, first you should know that the toenail consists of various parts, including:

the nail plate (which is the part you can see)
the nail bed (the skin the nail plate protects)
the cuticle (the skin that rims the base of the nail)
the nail folds (the three-sided frame of the nail)
the lunula (that half-moon, whitish part at the bottom of the nail)
the nail matrix (the hidden nail portion underneath the cuticle)

How can you be sure you have an ingrown toenail? If you have any of the following symptoms, chances are you do:

Pain and tenderness in your toe along one or both sides of the nail
Redness around your toenail
Swelling of your toe around the nail
Infection of the nail folds around your toenail

The good news is there are natural ways to treat the an ingrown toenail. Though many resort to surgery if in stages 2 or 3, that is usually not necessary if the nail is in stage 1, especially if you take care of the situation as soon as you notice it. (3) Here’s how:

1. Soak or Wash the Foot

Soaking the foot in warm, soapy water can be very beneficial in helping keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Soak the foot in warm water three to four times per day. You can add Epsom salt to the water to soften the skin of the affected area, which could make it easier to draw out the toenail from the skin.

2. Wash with Castile Soap

If soaking doesn’t work well with your schedule, you can try washing the foot and offending nail twice a day with soap and water. You may want to consider Castile soap due to its natural and pure ingredients. Make sure to keep the foot clean and dry.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Wash

Apple cider vinegar can help as a natural treatment for an ingrown toenail. You can try adding a quarter cup of vinegar to warm water for a foot soak or direct application of apple cider vinegar that has been diluted with purified water, which conditions ingrown nails to fight bacteria that may try to form.

While applying diluted apple cider vinegar to a wound may stave off infection, it may not cure an existing bacterial infection. However, it has antibacterial characteristics that can help keep the area clean as it heals.

4. Dental Floss Under the Nail

Placing cotton wisps or dental floss under the ingrown nail border can help by shifting the nail to grow in the correct direction instead of down into the skin. Try to lift up the corner of the nail that’s digging into the skin. Take a very small piece of cotton or gauze and roll it between the fingers to form a small roll or wick. Place it between the nail plate and the nail folds.

For a gentler method, use the dental floss, but make sure it’s not a flavored version as that could cause a burning sensation. The idea is to keep the nail elevated long enough to allow it to grow out and away from the skin. This is uncomfortable but effective.

Another helpful step you can take after every soaking is to try to push the roll a little farther in. Make sure to change the roll out every day. It may take one to two weeks for the nail to grow out, so be patient. In some cases, you may need to carefully cut the nail to get underneath it. Below I have included step-by-step instructions on how to cut the nail.

5. Avoid High Heels and Tight Shoes

I know many women enjoy the look of high heels, but if you want the ingrown toenail to remedy quickly, you should avoid these shoes. They can cause more pressure to be placed in the affected area, and that’s likely to cause a big delay in healing as well as pain. Tight-fitting shoes of any kind can cause this problem. Sandals can be helpful, allowing the nail the freedom to heal correctly.

6. Use Essential Oils to Help Reduce Inflammation and Pain

You can create your very own essential oil blend by combining melaleuca, ( tea tree oil ), cyprus, clove, lavender and rosemary with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil . Blend well, then gently massage onto the affected area. This helps you avoid synthetic medications by providing natural pain relief for the ingrown toenail and ultimately giving the area a healthier environment with which to heal. I have provided an ingrown toenail ointment recipe below using essential oils that may work well for you.

How to Cut an Ingrown Toenail

Cutting an ingrown toenail can be difficult, which is why I recommend that you’re very careful and have some help if you choose to do it at home. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

First, soak your feet in warm water mixed with either Epsom salt or Castile soap for about 20 minutes to help soften the toenail and skin and reduce any swelling.
Next, using clean fingers, push back the swollen skin carefully from the nail border. This will likely be uncomfortable. Don’t force it back more than the swollen skin allows.
Now, you need to cut the nail straight across. Start with the edges of the toenail, cutting the nail from the sides, not from the middle.
Place a small piece of cotton between the ingrown nail and skin. This helps stop the ingrown toenail from coming back, allowing it to grow correctly.
Apply the ointment in the recipe below to the affected area and bandage it carefully.
To help with healing and to stop future in-growing, avoid wearing socks and shoes while at home. Wear flip-flops or a shoe that avoids dirt but allows air to circulate.
It’s important to prevent infection by changing the cotton daily, maybe even twice a day.

Homemade Ingrown Toenail Ointment Recipe

You can make your very own ointment to help heal an ingrown toenail. Essential oils can help relieve pain and prevent infection. By putting this ointment directly on your toe, you can find some much-needed relief and and faster healing.

5 drops eucalyptus oil
5 drops tea tree oil
1 drop oregano oil
5 dro ps lavender oil
2 drops peppermint oil
2 ounces aloe vera gel
2 ounces coconut oil

Place all ingredients in a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Using a small spoon, stir until well-blended.
After careful cleansing and rinsing of the toe, apply the ointment on the area.
Allow it to air dry, if possible, by wearing flip-flops. If not, carefully and loosely bandage the toe, but make sure to wear loose-fitting shoes.
Redress the area two to three times per day. Make sure to wash the hands after and avoid the eyes, especially when using oregano oil . Oregano is a natural antibiotic but can be very strong, giving a burning sensation. It’s important to use these oils as prescribed, with a carrier oil such as coconut oil.

Common Causes of an Ingrown Toenail

Some of the most common causes of an ingrown toenail include: (4)

Wearing shoes that crowd the toenails, such as heels or any shoes that are too tight (this is the No. 1 risk factor for ingrown toenails, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS))
Cutting toenails too short or not straight across
Injuring the toenail
Having unusually curved toenails
Toe deformities
Subungual exostosis (outgrowth of bone from the tip of the toe)
Use of isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne

Medical Treatment of Ingrown Toenails

Once your ingrown toenail has progressed past the first stage, you may need to seek medical help. There are various surgical treatments of ingrown toenails your podiatrist may recommend. All of these are standard, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Wedge Resection: This involves the partial removal of the nail or a portion of it, after numbing your toe with a local anesthetic and draining any ingrown toenail infection. Your doctor can perform this procedure in the office and the recovery time is anywhere between two weeks to two months, depending on the size of the nail portion removed.

Matrixectomy: The matrixectomy procedure is also referred to as permanent or full nail avulsion. Unlike typical avulsions, which aren’t often practiced anymore (they often result in further issues), a matrixectomy happens when the physician removes the entire nail from your nail bed and then covers the nail matrix (the tissue beneath your nail) with a chemical that stops it from ever growing back.

Vandenbos Procedure: The Vandenbos procedure has been around since the late 1950s and involves removal of the skin directly underneath and on either side of the ingrown toenail. Recovery is longer with this procedure, but this is also the only procedure in which a doctor does not need to prescribe antibiotics for prevention of infections. It also seems to be the procedure most likely to prevent recurrences of ingrown nails.

Risks, Complications and Things You Should Know About Ingrown Toenails

It’s also important to note that if you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications of ingrown toenails. (8) That’s just another reason to treat your diabetes .

Left untreated or undetected, an ingrown toenail can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious bone infection. Complications can be especially severe if you have diabetes, which can cause poor blood flow and damage nerves in your feet. So a minor foot injury — a cut, scrape, corn, callus or ingrown toenail — may not heal properly and become infected.

A difficult-to-heal open sore (foot ulcer) may require surgery to prevent the decay and death of tissue (gangrene). Gangrene results from an interruption in blood flow to an area of your body. (9)

Other Diseases Affecting the Toenails

While ingrown toenails are the most common foot ailment, there are various foot diseases that cause nail problems and often have to be ruled out before diagnosing ingrown toenails.

Lichen Planus: Lichen planus , or “LP,” is a form of dermatitis that causes skin lesions on the foot (and sometimes other regions of the body). In about 10 percent of cases, toenails are affected, causing ridging and grooving, splitting, nail thinning and eventually, nail loss. (10)

Alopecia Areata: While most people think of alopecia in terms of hair loss, the impact it has on nails is sometimes the first sign of the disease. Within this disease, offending nails become pitted or split, frequently causing a rough appearance and white spots. (11)

Onychomycosis: This fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails might involve any part of the nail (matrix, bed or plate). Onychomycosis can cause pain/discomfort and even disfigurement, and the progression of the disease may result in problems with standing, walking and exercising. The foot complications involved with onychomycosis are also frequently responsible for causing social and professional limitations to those afflicted. (12)

Final Thoughts on Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail, or onychocryptosis, may occur at any age and is one of the most common toenail problems. It can be a painful condition that can become infected if not properly cared for. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe, though other toes can also be affected.
Ingrown toenails are classified into three categories: mild (stage 1), moderate (stage 2) and severe (stage 3). Mild cases are characterized by nail-fold swelling, erythema, edema and pain with pressure. Moderate cases are associated with increased swelling, drainage, infection and ulceration of the nail fold. The most severe cases of ingrown toenail exhibit chronic inflammation and granulation, as well as marked nail-fold hypertrophy.
Some of the most common causes of an ingrown toenail include wearing shoes that crowd the toenails, such as heels or any shoes that are too tight, cutting toenails too short or not straight across, injuring the toenail, having unusually curved toenails, toe deformities, subungual exostosis (outgrowth of bone from the tip of the toe), and use of isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne.
Ingrown toenail symptoms include pain and tenderness in your toe along one or both sides of the nail, redness around your toenail, swelling of your toe around the nail, and infection of the tissue around your toenail.
To get rid of an ingrown toenail at home, you can soak or wash the foot, wash with Castile soap, try an apple cider vinegar wash, use dental floss under the nail, avoid high heels and tight shoes, and use essentials oils to help reduce inflammation and pain.

Ingrown Toenail Treatments

Cutting an Ingrown Toenail Yourself or at the Doctor’s, and When