An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail protrudes into the surrounding flesh around it which is common among the toes due to footwear. An ingrown toenail can end up being a very painful condition resulting in redness around the nail, tenderness, swelling of the toe, and/or an infection of the nail. More on symptoms of an ingrown nail can be found here. Causes of an ingrown are commonly due to 

• Wearing tightly fitting shoes that crowd the toenails 
• Improper cutting of the nail that is too short or crooked and not straight across
• Trauma to the nail 
• Genetics that cause nails to grow abnormal and not in straight direction 

With these common causes in mind, we can fabricate methods of prevention to ensure that you do not develop this painful condition. Here are ways that you can decrease the chance so getting an ingrown toenail:

• Wear shoes that give your toes enough space 
• Let nails have a little space ahead of the end of your toe
• Wear correct footwear when doing activities that put your feet at risk 
• Trim toenails straight across
• Being aware of your feet’s health and practicing good hygiene