Ingrown toenail occurs when the side or corner of your toenail grows into or pierces the skin of the toe. It usually affects the big toe.
This can result in an open wound where bacteria enters and infection can set in. It is important to manage ingrown toenail timely to reduce the risk of infections.
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Proper trimming of toenails: Trim your toenails straight across and not too short such that the corner of the nails is visible above the skin
- Cutting deep into corners of nails may cause a sharp spike to be left within the nail fold, especially if the sides of the nail cannot be visualised well
- File the corners down well to avoid leaving any sharp corners
- Do not wear shoes that have a narrow or tight toe box
- Get your diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol under control to reduce the risk of developing an infection
You can prevent its recurrence by the following measures:
- Wearing shoes that have wide toe box to ensure the toes are not cramped within the footwear
- Avoid cutting into corners of your toenails or cutting them too short
We advise proper treatment by a healthcare specialist. This may include removal of nail spike or cutting away whole or part of the affected toenail.
- Total or partial nail removal under local anaesthesia.
- Antibiotic treatment may be required if there are any signs of infection.
Seek early medical attention if you have reduced blood circulation and/or signs of infection.
When should I seek medical treatment?
Seek medical treatment immediately If there is pain, redness, swelling, pus and/or bleeding around your ingrown toenail.
