Ingrown toenail: symptoms, safe home care and removal

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge or corner of a toenail grows into the soft skin beside it, instead of over the top. It most often affects the big toe and can make the area red, swollen, and tender. Many can be settled at home, but some need a professional.

This page is general information to help you understand ingrown toenails and care for them safely. It is not a diagnosis. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or signs of infection, see a doctor or podiatrist rather than treating it yourself.

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail (sometimes called onychocryptosis) occurs when the side of the nail curves or grows down into the surrounding skin, pressing into it and causing irritation. As the nail digs in, the skin can become inflamed, and sometimes the toe gets infected.

It is very common, usually affects the big toe, and is often caused by cutting nails too short or rounding the corners, wearing tight shoes, or injuring the toe. Most cases are mild and not serious in otherwise healthy people, but they can be painful and tend to come back if the underlying cause isn't addressed.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?

The main signs are pain, redness, and swelling along the edge of the toenail, usually on one side of the toe. In the early stages the area simply feels tender and sore when pressed or when wearing shoes.

Symptoms can include:

• Pain and tenderness down one or both sides of the nail.
• Redness and swelling of the skin beside the nail.
• A feeling of pressure or that the nail is digging in.
• Fluid or pus, bleeding, or an overgrowth of soft tissue beside the nail if it becomes infected.

Signs that it may be infected — and needs medical attention — include increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, warmth, and feeling generally unwell or feverish.

How do I treat an ingrown toenail safely at home?

For a mild, non-infected ingrown toenail, gentle home care is usually enough. The aim is to ease the pressure and keep the toe clean while the nail grows out.

Safe steps include:

• Soak the foot in warm, salty water. Soaking for around 10–20 minutes a few times a day softens the skin, soothes the area, and helps keep it clean. Ordinary table salt is fine. Dry the foot thoroughly afterwards.
• Keep the toe clean and dry between soaks.
• Wear roomy, comfortable shoes — or open-toed shoes if you can — to take the pressure off the toe. Tight or pointed shoes make it worse.
• Use simple pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, following the instructions on the packet.
• Let the nail grow out. Resist the urge to keep trimming it; the goal is for the nail edge to grow beyond the skin.

What should I not do?

Don't try to perform "bathroom surgery" on your own toe — this is where most problems start. Avoid:

• Cutting or digging the nail out yourself, or repeatedly cutting down the sides. This often pushes a spike of nail deeper, worsens the ingrowing, and introduces infection.
• Picking at the toe or pulling at the nail edge.
• Wearing tight, narrow, or pointed shoes while it settles.

A note on the "dental floss under the nail" trick. You may have seen advice to tuck a small piece of dental floss or cotton under the corner of the nail to lift it away from the skin. It is widely shared and is sometimes suggested as a way to encourage the nail to grow over the skin rather than into it. However, poking anything under an already irritated nail can introduce bacteria and raise the risk of infection, especially if the toe is already sore or you can't keep it scrupulously clean. It is not a reliable fix, and it is not safe to attempt if the toe shows any sign of infection. If a simple salt-water soak and roomy shoes aren't settling things, a podiatrist is the safer option — they can lift or trim the nail properly using clean, sterile instruments.

How do professionals treat an ingrown toenail?

A doctor or podiatrist can treat an ingrown toenail safely, and treatment is usually quick and effective. For a milder case, a podiatrist may gently lift the nail edge or remove a small spike of nail that is digging into the skin, which often brings fast relief.

For more stubborn or recurring ingrown toenails, the most common procedure is a partial nail avulsion — removing the problem edge of the nail under local anaesthetic so the toe is numb. Sometimes a chemical is applied to the nail bed to stop that edge regrowing. A whole-nail removal is occasionally needed but is less common. If the toe is infected, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics, often before or alongside any procedure.

How can I prevent ingrown toenails?

The single most useful habit is cutting your toenails correctly: straight across, not rounded down into the corners, and not too short. Leaving the corners slightly proud of the skin helps stop the nail digging in.

Other helpful measures:

• Cut nails straight across and avoid trimming them very short.
• Wear shoes that fit properly, with enough room at the toes — tight or pointed shoes are a common cause.
• Wash and dry your feet daily and keep the skin healthy.
• Protect your toes from repeated knocks and injury.

Good general foot care reduces problems across the board — if you also get heel or arch pain, our guide to plantar fasciitis covers footwear and foot health too.

When should I see a doctor or podiatrist?

See a GP or podiatrist if home care isn't helping after a few days, the toe is very painful, or there are signs of infection such as spreading redness, pus, or feeling unwell. Don't wait it out if it's clearly getting worse.

You should seek professional help early — rather than treating it yourself — if you have:

• Diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system, because foot problems can become serious more quickly and need careful attention.
• Signs of infection, such as increasing pain, redness, warmth, pus, or a fever.
• An ingrown toenail that keeps coming back despite good nail care.
• Numbness or reduced feeling in the feet.

For people with diabetes in particular, even a minor toe problem is worth getting checked promptly. This page is background information and not a substitute for advice from a doctor or podiatrist.