Ingrown Toenails: Causes, Safe Home Care and Treatment

Oct 11, 2026 · Dr. Reza Mobarak

An ingrown toenail happens when the side or corner of a toenail grows into the skin next to it. Cleveland Clinic says about 2 in 10 people who see a provider for a foot problem come in for one. Mild cases often improve with home care, but infection or certain health conditions call for a doctor.

If you have diabetes, nerve damage in your feet or poor circulation, don’t treat an ingrown toenail yourself. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, advise getting care as soon as possible.

In the video above, Southwest Foot & Ankle Center, the Lewisville, Texas, practice of podiatrist Dr. Reza Mobarak, introduces ingrown toenails. The medical details below come from the organizations listed under Sources.

What causes ingrown toenails

The big toe is affected most often, but any toenail can grow in. Common causes include:

  • Trimming. Cutting nails too short or rounding the corners can let the edge grow into the skin; the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) calls cutting too short the most common cause. Picking or tearing the corners can also start it.
  • Shoes and socks that are tight, short or crowd the toes.
  • Injury, such as stubbing a toe, having it stepped on, or repeated pressure from everyday activity.
  • Nail shape and family history. Some people are born with curved nails or nails too large for the toe, and the tendency often runs in families.
  • Other nail problems, such as a fungal infection or losing a nail to injury.

Symptoms and signs of infection

At first the toe may feel tender, hard or swollen, with redness along the nail edge. If bacteria get into the broken skin, signs of infection include:

  • pus or other drainage
  • pain, redness or swelling that gets worse
  • a warm or hot toe
  • a bad smell
  • extra raised tissue at the nail edge, which APMA calls “proud flesh”

Rarely, infection spreads through the toe into the bone, according to Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus.

When to see a doctor

See a podiatrist or your doctor:

  • right away if there is drainage or a lot of redness
  • if you have severe pain, redness, swelling or a fever
  • if home care hasn’t helped within a few days, or the toe is getting worse
  • if you get ingrown toenails often
  • as soon as possible if you have diabetes, nerve damage in your feet or poor circulation

Tell your doctor if you are or might be pregnant: the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) notes some treatments can’t be used during pregnancy.

Safe home care for mild cases

If the toe doesn’t look infected and none of the conditions above apply to you, sources describe:

  • soaking the foot in warm or room-temperature water a few times a day, then keeping it dry
  • gently massaging the swollen skin beside the nail
  • wearing roomy shoes or sandals until it heals
  • over-the-counter pain relievers, if they are safe for you

Some sources describe tucking a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail edge, changed daily, but ACFAS advises against cotton because it can let bacteria grow. Ask your doctor first.

What not to do

ACFAS warns against “bathroom surgery.” Digging or cutting out the ingrown piece yourself tends to make things worse. Also avoid:

  • cutting a notch in the nail or repeatedly trimming its edges, which don’t change how it grows
  • ripping or tearing the nail
  • relying on over-the-counter nail products, which may dull pain but don’t fix the problem

How a podiatrist may treat it

  • Lifting the nail edge. For mild cases, Cleveland Clinic says providers can often use the same techniques as home care, with sterile instruments.
  • Removing part of the nail. After numbing the toe with an injection, the doctor removes the strip of nail growing into the skin (a partial nail avulsion). The nail can take 2 to 4 months to grow back.
  • Treating the nail root. If the problem keeps coming back, the doctor may remove or destroy the root (matrix) of that edge of the nail so it doesn’t regrow. APMA says this can be done with a chemical, a laser or other methods. Not everyone needs this step.
  • Medicine if the toe is infected.

ACFAS says most people have little pain afterward and resume normal activity the next day. AAFP suggests loose or open-toe shoes and no running or strenuous exercise for the first two weeks. Follow your own doctor’s aftercare instructions.

Extra caution with diabetes or poor circulation

APMA says people with diabetes or circulation disorders should skip self-treatment entirely and see a podiatrist at the first sign of an ingrown toenail, because complications can be more serious. MedlinePlus recommends routine foot exams and nail care for people with diabetes.

Prevention

  • Cut toenails straight across, not shorter than the tip of the toe, without rounding or digging into the corners.
  • Trim after soaking, a bath or a shower, when nails are softer, using clean, sharp clippers.
  • Don’t pick or tear your nails.
  • Wear shoes and socks with room for your toes. Avoid pointy toe boxes, tight shoes and high heels, but don’t go too loose.
  • Protect your feet from injury and keep them clean and dry.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Is my toe infected, and do I need medicine?
  • Is home care safe for me, and should I put anything under the nail edge?
  • Do I need a procedure, and does the nail root need treatment?
  • What will recovery be like?
  • Does my diabetes or circulation change the plan?
  • What’s the right way for me to trim my toenails, and which shoes are best?
  • How likely is it to come back?

Dr. Mobarak is a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon at Southwest Foot & Ankle Center in Lewisville, Texas. See Dr. Mobarak’s Best Docs Network profile for more about the practice.

Sources

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified health professional about your own situation. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.

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