Share:

clean pedicure and pretty toenails on female feet with white background

How to Recognize and Treat Ingrown Toenails Safely

Ingrown toenails can be more than just a foot problem. Quite frankly, they’re annoying. They can also lead to significant discomfort and even serious complications if not addressed properly. Many people don’t even fully understand what they are or what “ingrown” really looks like, so recognizing ingrown toenails early is crucial! This will allow for prompt, effective and safe ingrown toenail treatment, which will reduce your risk of infection and help you avoid more invasive procedures.

Recognizing Ingrown Toenails

So, how can you tell if you’re dealing with an ingrown toenail? The first symptoms include pain and tenderness along the side edge of your toenail (the exact location is the called the paronychium, or the soft tissue border around the nail), typically on the big toe. Why the big toe? It is larger and more vulnerable! It withstands the most damaging effects from poor foot care habits (more on that later).

You might also notice swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area. If the condition progresses, pus may develop, indicating an ingrown toenail infection. Catching these signs early is key to avoiding further issues.

Visually, it may look curved or embedded, or simply like a tiny, strange nail growth attached to the main nail. You may also see skin growing over the nail.

Ingrown Toenails Causes

Ingrown toenails result from seemingly innocent routines that over time, damage your foot health.

These include improper nail trimming — cutting nails too short or rounding the edges (many people do this for aesthetics but it’s a big no-no!) which encourages the nail to grow into the skin. Tight shoes that squeeze the toes together (your feet may be wider than you think), as well as injuries to the toenail, are also common culprits. In some cases, genetics may play a role: some people’s natural nail shape and growth pattern may make them more predisposed to developing ingrown toenails, like involuted or pincer toenails.

Knowing these causes gives you the upper hand in preventing ingrown toenails before they start.

Preventing Ingrown Toenails

Wherever possible, prevention is always better than cure.

By trimming your nails straight across, wearing shoes that fit properly, and keeping your feet clean, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing ingrown toenails and a corresponding infection.

If you’re unsure how to cut your toenails properly, especially if you have conditions like diabetic neuropathy, seeking help from a chiropodist for a medical pedicure can be a smart choice. People with diabetes need to be extra vigilant about foot care, as their condition can make them more susceptible to complications from ingrown toenails. Click here to see how a deceptively minor laceration can turn into an ulcer.

Regularly checking your feet, especially if you’re prone to ingrown toenails, is also an essential part of care.

Treating Ingrown Toenails

For mild cases in the early stages, soaking your foot in warm water for 15 minutes 2 times a day can soften the skin and reduce swelling. After, you can wedge a wet piece of cotton under the corner of the toenail to help lift the ingrown portion while it heals. But beware—safe ingrown toenail treatment at home requires careful handling to avoid making things worse. And whatever you do, do not attempt to cut the toenail or dig the ingrown portion out.

If there’s no improvement in 3 days, or if you’re experiencing any pain or irritation, seeking professional ingrown toenails treatment from a Toronto chiropodist is a better idea. For safe ingrown toenail treatment, always see a chiropodist – do not go to a salon. If you try to treat your ingrown toenail at home (or at a salon), you can get an infection and make things worse. Plus, when you do ultimately see the chiropodist, the chiropodist will have to cut the toenail even shorter than they normally would in order to fix the DIY job. This lengthens the healing process.

If the pain is severe and you’re waiting for your chiropody appointment, try the following tips for ingrown toenail relief:

  • Soaking your feet in warm (not hot) water with Epson salts: The salt is a natural disinfectant and will help clean the wound so that it doesn’t get infected and become further irritated.
  • If there are signs of infection (i.e.: bleeding, discharge), wear a band-aid over the ingrown toenail when you’re wearing shoes and socks to prevent bacteria from getting stuck in the wound.
  • Try over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Ibuprofen

These can offer temporary comfort before you can address the root cause and follow proper treatment guidelines. 

Safe Ingrown Toenail Removal

Safe ingrown toenail removal with a licensed chiropodist is always the best way to go. Most ingrown toenails do not need to be surgically removed: a chiropodist can typically safely remove it non-surgically with sterilized tools in a sanitized, safe environment. They can also cut the toenail in a way to prevent it from coming back.

In severe cases (like if you attempted to fix your own ingrown toenail and it got infected, or your ingrown toenail keeps coming back), safe ingrown toenail treatment may involve a minor surgical procedure from a chiropodist called a total or partial nail avulsion.

Need Assistance Treating and Preventing Ingrown Toenails?

Come to our Toronto foot clinic based in Bloor West village for the best foot care around! We’ll get you started with some incredible nail care services, a shoe fitting in our shoe store, and more. Call us at (416) 769-3338 or book an appointment here!

Second body image by Racool_studio from freepik, last body image by freepik! 

Related Posts

Book Online

Our simple to use, online booking process makes it easy to book an appointment with a chiropodist for any of our services. No referral needed!

Got questions? We're here to help.

Please fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Carolina Charles

Patient Relation Coordinator (She/Her)

If you’ve been to the clinic before, chances are you had the pleasure of meeting Carolina! Carolina’s daily goal is going above and beyond to make sure patients are always completely satisfied. Having worked in the podiatry industry for 22 years, Carolina brings a wealth of knowledge pertaining to client service, insurance policies, and procedures.​ She steers the ship to make sure everything runs smoothly on the daily. Carolina is known for spicing up every outfit with her signature costume jewellery.