Ingrown Toe Nails

Ingrown toenails may be small injuries, but they can cause big problems. Susz Podiatry & Wound Care, the premier podiatry practice led by board-certified podiatrist John Susz DPM, FACFAS, offers ingrown toenail treatment that can end your discomfort immediately during your first office visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails curve downward and dig into the skin on the side of your toe. They almost always affect the big toe. It’s very common to have obvious signs of a problem where the nail grows into the skin, such as:

Red or pink skin
Swelling
Warmth
Discomfort or pain, especially when you put pressure on the nail

Bacteria can creep under your skin when you have an ingrown toenail, leading to an infection. An infected ingrown toenail may swell up even more, and it’s common for it to leak pus at the corner of the nail. Infected ingrown toenails are often especially painful. In severe ingrown toenail cases, you may develop a fever or notice red streaks branching out from the affected nail. Both are signs you should seek immediate medical care.

Why do I have an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails often happen because of poor nail care habits. Trimming your nails too short or filing them downward at the edges can encourage ingrown toenail development. Toenail injuries, including stubbing your toe, having someone step on your toe, or repetitive kicking during sports like soccer, can all cause an ingrown toenail.

Even the natural shape and size of your toenail may contribute to ingrown toenails. For example, if your toenails are quite large, but your nail bed is smaller, you have an increased risk of ingrown toenails.

What does ingrown toenail treatment involve?

There are a few different options to treat ingrown toenails. The Susz Podiatry & Wound Care team assesses your toenail and recommends an immediate solution. Soaking the nail and lightly lifting the ingrown corner may work for milder ingrown toenails. The team may also place a tiny splint underneath the edge of the nail to stop it from growing back under your skin.

For more serious ingrown toenails, the best option is usually to remove the ingrown part of the nail. The team performs this quick in-office procedure using local numbing. Infected ingrown toenails require antibiotics. If the team prescribes antibiotics, be sure to use them until all are gone.