The Only Ways to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenails, According to Experts

Improper clipping or ill-fitting shoes are usually to blame, but once you have an ingrown toenail, here are ways to treat it.

What’s going on with my toe?

Ingrown toenails, medically described as onychocryptosis, is a fairly frequent complaint. This condition occurs when the sides of the nail grow into the surrounding skinโ€”either due to a mismatch in the size of the nail and the size of the nail bed (the nail is too big for its bed), or due to poor trimming/clipping practices, says Chris G. Adigun, MD, board-certified dermatologist and nail specialist at Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill. “When the nail grows and pierces the skin, it causes an inflammatory response leading to redness, swelling, and pain,” she says, noting that ingrown toenails most commonly occur on the big toes. Is there something else wrong with your toes? Check out what else causes toe pain.

Shoes
bondvit/Shutterstock

Top causes of ingrown toenails

“Improper clipping of the sides of the nails and poorly fitting shoes are the most common causes of onychocryptosis, but it can occur in childhood as a congenital condition,” says Dr. Adigun. But there are other causes for ingrown toenails. “The configuration of the nail borders on some people’s toes are significantly curved inward and as such, the nail has a predisposition to becoming ingrown,” says Mark Hinkes, a doctor of podiatric medicine at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, who is board-certified in foot surgery and wound care. “In this situation, the person is confronted with the nail borders being tender and just about to become ingrown.” This situation makes wearing closed shoes painful and can cause functional disability, preventing people from persuing their normal activities. Here’s another potential cause for ingrown toenails and other foot maladies.

Pedicure
Dragon Images/Shutterstock

Prevention is key

The best way to prevent an ingrown nail is to use proper grooming techniques. “Cutting the free edge of the nail in a slightly curved shape and leaving the nails long are essential,” Dr. Adigun notes. If you’re going to a salon for a pedicure, make sure you’re going to a good place. “Use of inappropriate and non-sterile instruments like razor blades or scissors combined with poor lighting and poor eye-hand coordination can result in the nail being trimmed improperly, resulting in an ingrown toenail,” says Hinkes. These are theย things your manicurist is secretly thinking about your nails.

feet soaking
Kzenon/Shutterstock

Home remedies

Soaking the nails in warm salt water or just warm water can relieve discomfort caused by ingrown nails, especially if there is swelling involved, notes Dr. Adigun. Additionally, the taping method can successfully treat ingrown toenails without medical intervention. Dr. Adigun explains: “A piece of tape is applied to the side of the skin with the ingrown nail, and then wrapped behind the toe onto the opposite side of the same toe. The tape pulls the skin away from the painful nail.” That’s just one of numerous home health remedies that really work.

feet
Cherries/Shutterstock

OTC meds

Many people elect to try over-the-counter medications. “These products usually contain salicylic acid, a chemical that destroys human tissue painlessly. On a temporary basis, using medications like this may relieve the symptoms of the problem, but it will not eliminate the problem,” says Hinkes. People with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease should not use these products as the acid can be a trigger for chemical trauma, resulting in an ulcer that risks infection. Here’s some more foot-care advice for people with diabetes.

Toes
Robert Przybysz/Shutterstock

Avoid making it worse

“I do not recommend additional trimming of the nail in an attempt to alleviate discomfort,” says Dr. Adigun. Instead, it is essential to keep the inflamed skin as far away from the nail as possible, and this often requires a visit to the doctor to assist. We often needlessly abuse our poor feetโ€”check out the health secrets your feet wish they could tell you.

Doctor
funnyangel/Shutterstock

Medical attention

Depending on the infection, you might require antibiotics, notes Dr. Adigun. You should make an appointment with your primary care physician, dermatologist, or podiatrist. “Anti-inflammatory medication available in topical and injectable forms can significantly improve ingrown nails,” she says. If you have thick yellow drainage or systemic symptoms such as a fever or chills, seek care immediately. Make sure you know the signs that a wound might be infected.

Surgery-tools
Milos Luzanin/Shutterstock

Will I need surgery?

Experts debate whether surgery is necessary. “Surgery is not a first-line treatment for ingrown nails,” says Dr. Adigun. “Once a nail is operated on, it may never grow back the same.” However, Hinkes notes that podiatrists use surgical techniques to permanently resolve the problem. One technique is called the phenol-alcohol technique or the P&A procedure. “The procedure was developed in the 1960s and is acceptable for diabetic patients. This procedure is done in the office under local anesthesia. Once the toe is numb, a tourniquet is applied to the toe to prevent bleeding, and a portion of the side of the nail that is ingrown is removed, thus providing access to the nail root or Matrix cells. These specialized cells are bathed with 88 percent carbolic acid (phenol), destroying them and eliminating the problem.” If you do opt for surgery, make sure you know these 50 tips from top surgeons.

Sources
  • Chris G. Adigun, MD, board-certified dermatologist and nail specialist at Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC.
  • Mark Hinkes, a doctor of podiatric medicine at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Medically reviewed by Jessica Wu, MD, on March 30, 2020

Judy Koutsky
Judy Koutsky is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has appeared in over 30 publications including WebMD, Prevention, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Redbook, Parents, and Scholastic. Her article topics include health, psychology, parenting, lifestyle, and travel. She also works on custom publishing projects and has worked with companies such as Enfamil, Pampers, and Procter & Gamble. Judy's earlier work included management positions at Time Inc. and Hearst. She was previously Editorial Director of KIWI; Executive Editor of Parenting.com; and Editorial Director/GM of Hachette Filipacchi New Media.