Ingrown toenail

You usually get an ingrown toenail on your big toe. But you can get them on any toe.

Your toe may be red, painful and swollen.

Your toenail may curve into your toe.

Your toe can also get infected.

Signs of an infected toe include:

• pus coming out of it
• you feel hot or shivery

If you go to a GP with an ingrown toenail, they'll usually suggest you try these things first.

• soak your foot in warm, salty water to help soften the skin around your toe and reduce the chances of infection

• keep your foot dry for the rest of the day

• wear wide, comfortable shoes or sandals

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain

• do not cut your toenail – leave it to grow out

• do not pick at your toe or toenail

• do not wear tight, pointy shoes

You can ask a pharmacist about:

• treatments to help ease the pain and prevent an infection
• whether you need to see a GP

• treating your ingrown toenail at home is not helping
• your toe is painful and swollen with pus coming out of it
• you have a very high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery
• you have diabetes and an ingrown toenail – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

A GP can:

• check to see if you have an ingrown toenail
• give you antibiotics if your toenail is infected

If you have a badly ingrown toenail, they may refer you to a foot specialist (podiatrist).

Treatment from a foot specialist

A podiatrist may offer further treatments, such as:

• cutting away part of the nail
• removing the whole nail

You may have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb your toe when this is done.

Referral to a podiatrist on the NHS may not be available to everyone and waiting times can be long. You can pay to see a podiatrist privately.

To help stop ingrown toenails:

• do not cut your toenails too short
• cut straight across the nail, not the edges
• do not wear shoes that are too tight or do not fit properly
• keep your feet clean and dry them thoroughly

Symptoms of an ingrown toenail include a painful and swollen toe. Your toenail may curve into the side of your toe.

Things you can do to help an ingrown toenail include soaking your foot in warm, salty water, taking painkillers and wearing comfortable shoes.

A GP may give you antibiotics if your ingrown toenail is infected. Sometimes your nail may need to be cut or removed by a foot specialist.

To prevent ingrown toenails, keep your feet clean, cut straight across your nails and do not cut them too short. Make sure your shoes fit properly.