MyHealthyFeet
Patient education from a podiatrist
Ingrown Toenails: Home Care and When to See a Doctor
An ingrown toenail happens when the corner of a toenail digs into the skin alongside it, causing pain, redness, and sometimes infection. Most early ingrown toenails resolve with simple home care. Catching it early means avoiding a procedure later.
1 Home care for early ingrown toenails
- Soak the foot in warm Epsom salt water for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times daily
- Keep the area clean and dry between soaks
- Apply over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (bacitracin, mupirocin)
- Wear open-toed shoes or sandals to relieve pressure
- Improvement typically begins within 2 to 3 days
2 Prevent future ingrown toenails
- Cut nails straight across, not curved into the corners
- Don't cut nails too short; leave the white edge visible
- Wear shoes with adequate toe-box width
- Avoid socks that bunch or compress the toes
- Don't pick or tear at toenails
- If you cannot reach your toenails, ask a podiatrist or family member to trim
Call your doctor today if:
- Pus or yellow drainage from the nail edge
- Spreading redness, warmth, or swelling
- Fever or red streaks moving up the foot
- Pain so severe you cannot wear shoes or walk normally
- No improvement after 3 to 4 days of home care
- You have diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation (any ingrown toenail needs same-day evaluation)
When the same toe keeps getting infected
- A simple in-office procedure permanently removes the offending edge
- Done with local anesthesia in 15 to 20 minutes
- Most patients return to normal activity within 1 to 2 days
- Recurrence rate after the permanent procedure is under 5 percent