Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to Treat at HomeHome TreatmentMedical TreatmentRecoveryRepeated Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When to Treat at Home
Home Treatment
Medical Treatment
Recovery
Repeated Treatment
Ingrown toenails are a common foot complaint.They occur when the edge of a toenail starts growing into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, and discoloration, potentially leading to an infection.
Some mild ingrown toenails may be managed with at-home remedies, but severe or infected cases require treatment from a healthcare provider with prescription medication or surgical procedures.
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When to Treat an Ingrown Toenail at Home
Treating aningrown toenailat home will depend on the severity of the case and whether there’san infection.
At-home management may be appropriate for most mild and some moderate ingrown toenail cases.This includes ingrown toenails that present with symptoms like:
If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or nerve damage in the foot, do not treat the ingrown toenail at home. See a healthcare provider.
Evidence-Based Ingrown Toenail Home Remedies to Try
The goals of treating your ingrown toenail at home are to relieve symptoms, prevent it from getting worse, promote healing, and reduce the chances of it happening again.
For mild (and some moderate) ingrown toenail cases, here are some evidence-based tactics to start with:
If home treatment of an ingrown toenail appears to be working or improving, it may still take several days or more to resolve fully. Experts note that successful at-home treatment should continue until the nail grows past the curved edge, which can take two to 12 weeks.
Can You Safely Remove Your Ingrown Toenail at Home?
Medical Ingrown Nail Treatment
Youringrown nailmay require medical treatment if it’s a moderate or severe case that isn’t getting better with home treatment—or even seems to be getting worse.
A moderate to severe case is generally classified as presenting with the typical ingrown toenail symptoms like pain, swelling, and discoloration, but to a much more severe degree. In addition, the skin around the edge of theaffected nail may thicken, start to grow abnormally, or appear red or discolored.
Healthcare providers recommend medical treatment for ingrown nails if:
When to See a Provider for an Ingrown ToenailPeople with a health condition that can increase the risk of developing foot issues, likediabetes,poor circulation, or nerve damage to the foot, should not attempt at-home treatment for an ingrown toenail. Instead, see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and medical treatment.
When to See a Provider for an Ingrown Toenail
People with a health condition that can increase the risk of developing foot issues, likediabetes,poor circulation, or nerve damage to the foot, should not attempt at-home treatment for an ingrown toenail. Instead, see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and medical treatment.
Infection
An infected ingrown toenail will likely require prescription antibiotics—likeKeflex (cephalexin)—to clear the infection. Theentire course of antibioticsmust be taken to help prevent recurrence, even if symptoms improve.
A healthcare provider may recommend surgical treatment for severe or frequently recurring infected ingrown toenails.
Reliving Pain Symptoms
Ingrown toenails can be quite uncomfortable. Generally,over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieverslike Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can help temporarily reduce pain.Advil can also help relieve inflammation.
Otherwise, a healthcare provider may offer the following:
Pain While WalkingPhysical activities like walking can be difficult with an ingrown toenail. Until it’s healed, consider:Wearing comfortable shoes, like sandals, that offer toes plenty of room to breatheAvoidinghigh heelsand shoes that are too loose or too tight, as these may put too much physical pressure on toes during movementResting your feet in a raised position when possible to alleviate pain and swelling
Pain While Walking
Physical activities like walking can be difficult with an ingrown toenail. Until it’s healed, consider:Wearing comfortable shoes, like sandals, that offer toes plenty of room to breatheAvoidinghigh heelsand shoes that are too loose or too tight, as these may put too much physical pressure on toes during movementResting your feet in a raised position when possible to alleviate pain and swelling
Physical activities like walking can be difficult with an ingrown toenail. Until it’s healed, consider:
How a Podiatrist Fixes an Ingrown Toenail
Sometimes, surgical intervention for a severe ingrown toenail is needed. Research suggests that surgical procedures help prevent future recurrences better than non-surgical treatment options.
Two common procedures for ingrown toenailsaim to remove contact between the affected nail and the corresponding skin fold:
People who have an allergy to local anesthetics,peripheral vascular disease(a blood circulation disorder), or ableeding disordermay not be candidates for these surgical procedures.
Post-surgery, many people find they can go back to normal activities after a few days.
What to do After Fixing an Ingrown Toenail
Nail groomingcan help prevent ingrown toenails andother nail issues. Here’s what experts recommend:
Note that toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, so you may not need to trim them as often as you manicure the nails on your hands.
Repeat Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Ingrown toenails that keep coming back may require additional medical treatment.
In these cases, a procedure known as a matrixectomy may be performed at the same time as a nail avulsion. This removes or destroys the nail root, preventing the toenail from growing back.The different techniques that are generally used include:
People who have certain health conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or peripheral vascular disease and people who are pregnant may not be eligible for a chemical matrixectomy due to chemical exposure.Check with a healthcare provider to discuss the best surgical options for you.
Summary
Ingrown toenails happen when the edge of the nail starts growing into the skin. In mild cases, at-home treatments like soaking the foot, applying a corticosteroid, and temporarily wearing open-toed shoes may relieve pain and resolve the issue.
People with diabetes, nerve damage to the foot, or poor circulation should see a healthcare provider rather than treating even a mild ingrown toenail at home.
For severe ingrown toenails, medical treatment is generally required, which involves antibiotics to clear an infection and surgical procedures to remove part or all of the affected nail if needed. See a healthcare provider for a suspected ingrown toenail that does not improve or worsens after a few days of home treatment.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mayeaux EJ Jr, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenail management.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):158-164.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail.Karaca N, Dereli T.Treatment of ingrown toenail with proximolateral matrix partial excision and matrix phenolization.Ann Fam Med. 2012;10(6):556-9. doi:10.1370/afm.1406American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ingrown toenails.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail removal - discharge.Mayeaux Jr. EJ, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenails.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):online.American Academy of Dermatology.How to trim your nails.American Podiatric Medical Association.When is foot surgery necessary?Muriel-Sánchez JM, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Montaño-Jiménez P, Coheña-Jiménez M.The treatment of ingrown nail: Chemical matricectomy with phenol versus aesthetic reconstruction. A single blinded randomized clinical trial.J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):845. doi:10.3390/jcm9030845
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mayeaux EJ Jr, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenail management.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):158-164.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail.Karaca N, Dereli T.Treatment of ingrown toenail with proximolateral matrix partial excision and matrix phenolization.Ann Fam Med. 2012;10(6):556-9. doi:10.1370/afm.1406American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ingrown toenails.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail removal - discharge.Mayeaux Jr. EJ, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenails.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):online.American Academy of Dermatology.How to trim your nails.American Podiatric Medical Association.When is foot surgery necessary?Muriel-Sánchez JM, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Montaño-Jiménez P, Coheña-Jiménez M.The treatment of ingrown nail: Chemical matricectomy with phenol versus aesthetic reconstruction. A single blinded randomized clinical trial.J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):845. doi:10.3390/jcm9030845
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mayeaux EJ Jr, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenail management.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):158-164.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail.Karaca N, Dereli T.Treatment of ingrown toenail with proximolateral matrix partial excision and matrix phenolization.Ann Fam Med. 2012;10(6):556-9. doi:10.1370/afm.1406American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.American Academy of Family Physicians.Ingrown toenails.MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail removal - discharge.Mayeaux Jr. EJ, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenails.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):online.American Academy of Dermatology.How to trim your nails.American Podiatric Medical Association.When is foot surgery necessary?Muriel-Sánchez JM, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Montaño-Jiménez P, Coheña-Jiménez M.The treatment of ingrown nail: Chemical matricectomy with phenol versus aesthetic reconstruction. A single blinded randomized clinical trial.J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):845. doi:10.3390/jcm9030845
Mayeaux EJ Jr, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenail management.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):158-164.
MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail.
Karaca N, Dereli T.Treatment of ingrown toenail with proximolateral matrix partial excision and matrix phenolization.Ann Fam Med. 2012;10(6):556-9. doi:10.1370/afm.1406
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ingrown toenail.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Ingrown toenails.
MedlinePlus.Ingrown toenail removal - discharge.
Mayeaux Jr. EJ, Carter C, Murphy TE.Ingrown toenails.Am Fam Physician.2019;100(3):online.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to trim your nails.
American Podiatric Medical Association.When is foot surgery necessary?
Muriel-Sánchez JM, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Montaño-Jiménez P, Coheña-Jiménez M.The treatment of ingrown nail: Chemical matricectomy with phenol versus aesthetic reconstruction. A single blinded randomized clinical trial.J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):845. doi:10.3390/jcm9030845
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