Mayeaux EJ. Nail avulsion and matrixectomy. In: Mayeaux EJ, ed. The Essential Guide to Primary Care Procedures. 2nd ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2015:534–556. Bostanci S, Ekmekçi P, Gürgey E. Chemical matricectomy with phenol for the treatment of ingrowing toenail. Acta Derm Venereol. 2001;81(3):181-183.

If you experience any foot care issues that do not resolve themselves naturally or through routine foot care within three weeks, you should seek the help of a healthcare professional. According to Dr. Cary Zinkin, a podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are four main causes of ingrown toenails: footwear that’s too tight, trauma to the toe (like badly stubbing it), improper trimming, and heredity. The first three can be prevented, but there are some people who are just prone to ingrowns “because of the shape of the nail root and the way the skin goes around it,” Zinkin says. In those cases, he recommends seeing a podiatrist for a simple procedure in which part of the nail is removed to prevent further ingrowns. Foot complications. American Diabetes Association. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/foot-complications. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.Prepare the toe with povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine (Peridex), or alcohol. A Freer septum elevator or hemostat can be used to push the cuticle off the nail plate. However, not everyone identifies an ingrowing toenail correctly. Sometimes, they have a curly nail which has a lot of debris (dirt or fluff) underneath it or a corn or callus down the side of the nail, which can be just as painful. However, if it’s a corn, you tend to experience a throbbing pain as opposed to the sharp pain you get with an ingrowing toenail. If this is the case, your podiatrist will remove the debris, and, if necessary, thin the nail. Is it serious? If you have diabetes, are taking steroids or are on anti-coagulants, don’t attempt to cut your nails or remove an ingrowing spikes of nail yourself. When should I see a podiatrist? Taping the nail. With this method, your health care provider pulls the skin away from the ingrown nail with tape.

Espensen EH, Nixon BP, Armstrong DG. Chemical matrixectomy for ingrown toenails. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002;92(5):287-295. Di Chiacchio N, Di Chiacchio NG. Best way to treat an ingrown toenail. Dermatol Clin. 2015;33(2):277-282. Apply 10% sodium hydroxide with a cotton-tipped applicator. Vigorously rub on the lateral horn of the nail matrix for one minute. Now that we’ve entered sandal season and are getting reacquainted with our bare feet, the issue of unsightly and painful ingrown toenails feels especially pertinent. Ingrowns occur when the corner of the nail (usually on the big toe) begins to grow into the skin, causing inflammation, pain, and potentially infection. As podiatrist Dr. Ernest L. Isaacson says, “If you think you have an ingrown nail, you’re probably right.” Dinulos JGH. Nail diseases. In Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

Avoid prolonged activation of the electrode, which can damage the deep tissues (i.e., extensor tendon insertion beneath the nail bed) and cause excessive time (months) for healing. If needed, the hypertrophied lateral tissue can be cut away or ablated with an electrode or scalpel. Refer to the manufacturer's operating instructions for appropriate settings. Lalonde D, Bell M, Benoit P, et al. A multicenter prospective study of 3,110 consecutive cases of elective epinephrine use in the fingers and hand. J Hand Surg Am. 2005;30(5):1061-1067. Eekhof JA, Van Wijk B, Knuistingh Neven A, et al. Interventions for ingrowing toenails. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012(4):CD001541. Firstly, learn to cut your nails properly. Nail cutters aren’t a good idea because the curved cutting edge can cut the flesh, and nail scissors can slip. It’s best to use nail nippers (available from chemists) because they have a smaller cutting blade but a longer handle. Cut your nails straight across and don’t cut too low at the edge or down the side. The corner of the nail should be visible above the skin. Also, cut them after a bath or shower when the nail is much softer. Peggs JF. Ingrown toenails. In: Pfenninger JL, Fowler GC. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 2nd ed. Mosby; 2003:269–272.

Apply directly to the nail matrix at the lateral sulcus and under the proximal fold two to three times for 30 to 60 seconds each round. This is not a diagnostic tool. this healthcare professional does not endorse Scholl products and were paid by the makers of Scholl for their time in producing this video What is ingrowing toenail? Yang KC, Li YT. Treatment of recurrent ingrown great toenail associated with granulation tissue by partial nail avulsion followed by matricectomy with sharpulse carbon dioxide laser. Dermatol Surg. 2002;28(5):419-421. Romero-Pérez D, Betlloch-Mas I, Encabo-Durán B. Onychocryptosis. Int J Dermatol. 2017;56(2):221-224. Placing a gutter splint under the nail. With this method, your health care provider numbs the toe and slips a tiny slit tube underneath the embedded nail. This splint stays in place until the nail has grown above the skin edge. This method helps ease the pain of an ingrown nail as well.

Andreassi A, Grimaldi L, D'Aniello C, et al. Segmental phenolization for the treatment of ingrowing toenails. J Dermatolog Treat. 2004;15(3):179-181. Arai H, Arai T, Nakajima H, et al. Formable acrylic treatment for ingrowing nail with gutter splint and sculptured nail. Int J Dermatol. 2004;43(10):759-765. Korkmaz M, Cölgeçen E, Erdoğan Y, et al. Teenage patients with ingrown toenails. Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(4):327. Nazari S. A simple and practical method in treatment of ingrown nails: splinting by flexible tube. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006;20(10):1302-1306. For involuted nails, part of the nail that is curling into the flesh is removed and then the edges of the nail are filed to a smooth surface