An ingrown toenail is a condition in which the corner of a toenail grows into the skin and soft tissue at the side of the nail. It could cause pain, redness, swelling, and infection. This condition occurs more often with the nail on the big toe than smaller toenails.

Prevention

There are several ways you can prevent ingrown toenail on your own:

  1. Cut your toenail straight across – the corner of the nail should be visible to you, not covered under the skin at the side of your nail. If the corner of your nail is buried under the skin after trimming, it may extend under your skin as it grows, which cause an ingrown toenail.

  2. Choose shoes that are not too tight and are large enough that they don’t push your toes. When you put pressure on the nail regularly, it can affect the direction of the nail growth and also worsen the symptom.

When to call a doctor

Contact your doctor or foot care professionals (i.e. podiatrists) if:

  1. The symptom does not go away on their own in a reasonable time.

  2. You are in pain

  3. Your skin progress to an infection

Additionally, if you have diabetes or another health conditions that affect your metabolism or circulation, contact your doctor for treatment even if the symptoms are still mild.