Ingrown Toenail Quiz
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I can't bend my toes because of both pains
There are deformed nails
Yellow nails
Pain in my toe
Abnormalities in fingernail shape
Discoloration of the nails
Pain in the toes
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Ingrown Toenail?
A condition where the corner of a toenail curves and grows into the skin, causing pain and swelling. Risk factors include obesity, small-sized shoes, and cutting the nails incorrectly.
Typical Symptoms of Ingrown Toenail
- Toe pain
- Change in nail color
- Change in nail shape
- Finger pain
- Affected area is warm to touch
- Swollen toes
- Redness in the affected area
- Swelling in the affected area
Diagnostic Questions for Ingrown Toenail
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Are you experiencing toe pain?
- Did your nail color change?
- Did your nail shape change?
- Are you experiencing pain in your finger?
- Is the affected area hot to touch?
Treatment of Ingrown Toenail
Treatment involves warm soaks and pushing the skin away from the toenail edge daily until the nail grows out. It is important to trim the toenails straight instead of curved. For severe cases, a healthcare provider may perform a toenail removal procedure, but the condition can recur, especially if the nail-cutting technique is not corrected.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Toenail growing into skin
- I have pain in my little toes on both feet
- Pain in both hands
- I have a pain in my right big toe
- Redness
- My big toe hurts
- Fingernail growing into skin
- The nail has a black streak
- I have pain in my left toe
- I feel pain in my left toe joint
- Thumb pain
- Ingrown nails
- Both toes hurt
- Toe redness
- I feel pain in my right toe joint
See full list
Symptoms Related to Ingrown Toenail
Diseases Related to Ingrown Toenail
FAQs
Q.
Is Your Ingrown Toenail Serious? Safe Relief for Women 65+
A.
There are several factors to consider. For most women 65+, an ingrown toenail is usually not dangerous and can improve with warm water soaks, clean and dry care, and roomy shoes while avoiding deep trimming; key relief and prevention steps that could change your next move are detailed below. Seek medical care promptly if pain worsens, redness spreads, there is warmth, pus, fever, color change, a sore that will not heal, or if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or neuropathy, since complications are more likely; see below for when professional treatments are safest.
References:
* Gencel E, Tekkeşin A, Güler MA, Ersoy A. Surgical and nonsurgical treatment for ingrown toenail (onychocryptosis): A systematic review. J Dermatolog Treat. 2021 May;32(3):263-270. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1834169. Epub 2020 Oct 31. PMID: 33132717.
* Han H, Zhao J, Tang B, Yang W, Zhang X. Treatment of ingrown toenail in patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Int Wound J. 2019 Oct;16(5):1098-1105. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13175. Epub 2019 Jul 24. PMID: 31338870.
* Lee DY, Lee JH, Kim JS, Park DH, Jang KS, Seo MS, Lee YR. Nonsurgical management of ingrown toenail: a systematic review. J Korean Med Sci. 2012 Mar;27(3):328-34. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.3.328. Epub 2012 Feb 21. PMID: 22421294; PMCID: PMC3292440.
* Zuber TJ, Pfenninger JL. Ingrown toenail: surgical and nonsurgical management. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Jan 15;89(2):107-15. PMID: 24434198.
* Lopez-Lopez D, Losa-Iglesias ME, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Regueiro-Collazo M, Rodriguez-Sanz D, Palomo-López P. Foot problems and associated factors among older people: a population-based study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 May;66(5):989-994. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15286. Epub 2018 Mar 2. PMID: 29505807.
Q.
Ingrown Toenail Care for Women: Pain Relief & Prevention
A.
Ingrown toenails in women are common and often manageable with warm foot soaks, gentle lifting with clean cotton or floss, wide toe box shoes, and straight-across trimming while avoiding bathroom surgery and watching for signs of infection. There are several factors to consider; see below for causes unique to women such as tight heels and pregnancy swelling, step-by-step home relief, red flags that require a doctor, and proven treatments and prevention tips that can guide your next steps.
References:
* Kalinowski R, Rusek M. Onychocryptosis - review of literature. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2021;72(2):107-111.
* Ozok G, Ates F, Bozkurt S, Atici T. Assessment of post-operative pain and quality of life after partial matrix excision with wedge resection for ingrown toenail. Foot Ankle Surg. 2019 Jun;25(3):362-366.
* Heidelbaugh JJ, Romanelli M. Management of the Ingrown Toenail. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Jan 15;101(2):99-104.
* Andreassi L, Foti C, Giudice G, Gigliotti P. Onychocryptosis: an update on a common condition. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2023 Dec;158(6):533-542.
* Aksakal AB, Gürcan S. Comparison of conservative methods in the treatment of onychocryptosis. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2019 Jul;109(4):288-294.
Q.
Seniors & Ingrown Toenails: Preventing Infection Risks
A.
Seniors face higher infection risks from ingrown toenails because of slower healing, reduced circulation, and chronic conditions like diabetes. Prevention centers on straight-across trimming, roomy footwear, daily foot checks, and early care for pain, redness, swelling, drainage, or fever. There are several factors to consider, including when to call a doctor, what at-home treatments to avoid, and special precautions if you have diabetes or poor circulation; see the complete guidance below to inform your next steps.
References:
* Leng C, Dong J, Han Y. Ingrown Toenail (Onychocryptosis). [Updated 2023 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560602/
* Davies G, Kinsey M, Backhouse M. Foot care for older people. Age Ageing. 2021 Jan 1;50(1):15-21. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa167. PMID: 32770284.
* Levy LA, O'Neal EE. Common Foot Problems in Older Adults. Clin Geriatr Med. 2020 Feb;36(1):1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2019.08.001. PMID: 31735398.
* Kim K, Park J. Prevalence of Foot Problems and Factors Affecting Foot Health in Hospitalized Older Adults. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2021 Mar-Apr 01;48(2):167-173. doi: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000755. PMID: 33749453.
* Elraiyah T, Tsapas A, Prutsky G, et al. Podiatric interventions for preventing diabetic foot ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jan 20;2016(1):CD011760. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011760.pub2. PMID: 26792419; PMCID: PMC6469274.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Mayeaux EJ Jr, Carter C, Murphy TE. Ingrown Toenail Management. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Aug 1;100(3):158-164. PMID: 31361106.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0801/p158.htmlHeidelbaugh JJ, Lee H. Management of the ingrown toenail. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Feb 15;79(4):303-8. PMID: 19235497.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2009/0215/p303.htmlZuber TJ. Ingrown toenail removal. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Jun 15;65(12):2547-52, 2554. PMID: 12086244.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2002/0615/p2547.htmlDincer Rota D, Bozduman Ö, Tanacan FE, Uğurlar M, Aksoy Sarac G, Yapıcı Uğurlar Ö, Erdoğan FG. Abnormal foot angles has an association with ingrown toenail. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Oct;75(10):e14474. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14474. Epub 2021 Jun 20. PMID: 34107146.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.14474