Items filtered by date: September 2025

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes infection. Common symptoms include redness, tenderness along the nail border, and drainage if the skin becomes infected. This condition often develops from trimming nails too short, wearing tight shoes, or experiencing repeated trauma to the toe. Prevention begins with proper nail care, such as cutting toenails straight across, avoiding shoes that pinch the toes, and keeping feet clean and dry. A chiropodist can treat the ingrown portion of the nail and offer long-term solutions to prevent recurrence. If you have ongoing pain or signs of infection, it is suggested that you see a chiropodist for professional care.

Ingrown toenails may require medical attention. If you have significant pain or notice signs of infection from an ingrown toenail, please consult with Cynthia Chan, B.Sc., D.Ch from Healthy Advantage Foot & Orthotic Clinic. Our practitioner will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

What Is an Ingrown Toenail? 

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edges of a toenail grow into the surrounding skin. The toenails of the big toe are usually affected, however, an ingrown toenail can happen on any toe. Sometimes, the area can become infected leading to potentially serious complications. The ingrown toenail may be caused by improper trimming of the toenail, wearing ill-fitting shoes, or injury to the nail.

Symptoms

The symptoms of an ingrown toenail include: 

• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Warmth
• Pus or drainage from the affected nail or a fever may indicate an infection of the area. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the severity of the ingrown toenail. In less severe cases, home treatment may be adequate. Soaking the affected foot in warm water and gently lifting the nail from the skin with a piece of clean cotton can help. In more severe cases, you may need to use topical or oral antibiotics to treat an infection. Surgical removal of the ingrown toenail may be required if more conservative treatments fail. 

Ingrown toenails may be prevented by wearing well-fitted shoes and properly trimming the toenails. Toenails should be trimmed straight across and not too short when using nail clippers. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.