An ingrown toenail is when the sides of the toenail curl down and dig into the skin of your toe.
Some things that may set you up for an ingrown toenail is when your toenails are trimmed to short or trimmed with a curve at the ends of the toenails. This can set your nails up to curl down when they grow and into your skin.
Causes
- Congenital, where the nail is just too large for the toe
- Trauma
- Stubbing of the toe
- Having the toe stepped on
- Tight shoewear
- Improper grooming and trimming of the nail
Symptoms
- Hard, swollen and tender to touch
- As symptoms progress it may become red and infected as well as feel very sore.
- If infection is present you will see a small amount of pus draining from the area.
- Most commonly seen in the big toe, but can occur in any of the toenails.
Treatment
- Non-Operative Ingrown Toenail Treatment
- Ingrown Toenail Surgical Treatment
Risk Factors
- Not protecting feet from trauma
- Wear shoes and socks that do not give ample room for your toes
- Not having proper hygiene where toes and feet are kept dry and clean