Ingrown Toe Nail Information

An ingrown toenail occurs when the side of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin. An abnormality of the nail, usually caused by injury or incorrect cutting, results in the nail growing into the skin and piercing it. This causes redness, swelling, signs of infection and pain. The big toe is most commonly affected, either on one or both sides.

Who is affected by ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails affect both men and women. They tend to be more common among teenagers and older people. During the teenage years, the feet tend to sweat more. As a result, the toenail and surrounding skin can soften and split, resulting in an ingrown toenail. 

Older people also sometimes get ingrown toenails because the nails naturally get thicker and more involuted as a person ages. This can make the nails more difficult to cut and more likely to put pressure on the skin surrounding the nail.

Badly cut toenails and tight fitting shoes are two possible causes of ingrown toenails. The type of treatment that is recommended will depend on the severity of the ingrown toenail. In most cases, an ingrown toenail can be successfully treated by either removing the section of the affected toenail or by removing the entire nail with nail surgery. 

Left untreated, an ingrown toenail can cause the toe to become infected. It may also cause an abscess (a painful, pus-filled swelling) to develop that will require nail surgery.

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