How to Fix an Ingrown Toenail

Trust us: you don’t want to let a case of ingrown toenails linger. This common toenail condition, in which a wayward edge or corner of a toenail finds the soft surrounding flesh and starts digging in, can produce a lot of tenderness and pain. More seriously, though, the injury can lead to a bacterial infection (which could jeopardize your entire toe) or provide an opening for an aggravating fungal infection of the toenail.

So, to reiterate—if you have an ingrown toenail, you want to fix it, fast. Fortunately, you have some good options available to you.

Treating an Ingrown Toenail at Home

If you are healthy, don’t have diabetes, and don’t have any concerns about circulation in your feet, you can attempt to fix a mild ingrown toenail at home. About 2-3 times per day, soak your feet in lukewarm water for a few minutes to get them nice and soft. Then, using a small piece of cotton or dental floss, gently push the corner of the nail to encourage it to grow up and out. Re-evaluate after a few days and see if your symptoms have improved.

Common Ingrown Toenail Treatment Questions

• Will an ingrown toenail heal itself?
• Will an ingrown dissolve itself?
• Should I cut out the ingrown out myself?
• What is the fastest way to get rid of an ingrown toenail?

Ingrown toenails may resolve on their own when following the instructions above. It can depend greatly on the severity of the ingrown toenail. If it has been a problem for a while or it is infected, it is better to have the ingrown toenail treated by a podiatrist. We never advise anyone to cut out an ingrown toenail at home. This can lead to a number of problems including infections and reoccurence. If the toenail does not improve or you notice any redness or swelling, you should visit your Arizona podiatrist. 

Ingrown Toenails: When to See a Podiatrist

However, if the pain is severe, you have any potential complicating medical concerns, you see any signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus, etc.), or home care just isn't working, give us a call. In fact, you can give us a call right at the beginning if you just don’t want the hassle! We can fix ingrown toenails at our office in minutes by either lifting the nail or cutting and removing the ingrown edge under a local anesthetic. The pain relief is immediate, the procedure won’t keep you off your feet or from enjoying daily activities, and often times it is permanent.