Korkmaz M, Cölgeçen E, Erdoğan Y, et al. Teenage patients with ingrown toenails. Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(4):327. An ingrowing toenail typically affects teenagers and young adults the most. A number of things can cause an ingrowing toenail to develop and if left untreated, could pierce the skin.

Reyzelman AM, Trombello KA, Vayser DJ, et al. Are antibiotics necessary in the treatment of locally infected ingrown toenails?. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9(9):930-932. You should see a podiatrist urgently if you have symptoms of infection, and also have diabetes, poor circulation or a reduced immune system. You should also visit a podiatrist if you experience any persistent pain in your toe from the ingrowing nail or have a condition that affects the nerves and/or feeling in your foot. Before you are seen by a podiatrist, you can relieve the discomfort by bathing your foot in a salty footbath which helps to prevent infection and reduces inflammation. Then apply a clean sterile dressing, especially if you have a discharge, and rest your foot as much as possible.Di Chiacchio N, Di Chiacchio NG. Best way to treat an ingrown toenail. Dermatol Clin. 2015;33(2):277-282.

Cutting toenails incorrectly, too short, especially around the edges which can encourage the nail to grow into the skin. Bostanci S, Ekmekçi P, Gürgey E. Chemical matricectomy with phenol for the treatment of ingrowing toenail. Acta Derm Venereol. 2001;81(3):181-183. Ozdemir E, Bostanci S, Ekmekci P, et al. Chemical matricectomy with 10% sodium hydroxide for the treatment of ingrowing toenails. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30(1):26-31.Siegle RJ, Stewart R. Recalcitrant ingrowing nails. Surgical approaches. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1992;18(8):744-752. Dinulos JGH. Nail diseases. In Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021. Woo SH, Kim IH. Surgical pearl: nail edge separation with dental floss for ingrown toenails. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(6):939-940.

Espensen EH, Nixon BP, Armstrong DG. Chemical matrixectomy for ingrown toenails. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002;92(5):287-295. Less common is a fungal infection or in some cases particular types of medication, for example isotretinoin. Who gets it?

Treatment

Romero-Pérez D, Betlloch-Mas I, Encabo-Durán B. Onychocryptosis. Int J Dermatol. 2017;56(2):221-224. 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. High WA, et al., eds. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021. Provide informed surgical consent and place the patient in the supine position, with the knees flexed and the foot flat on the table or the leg extended and the foot hanging off the end of the table.

Grasp the cut nail fragment with a hemostat. Remove by pulling the nail plate caudally (toward the ankle) in a straight line allowing the uncut portion to strip off and release the plate ( Figure 4C 23).Sweaty feet can lead to softer skin around the nail, and a softer nail, so it becomes easier to bend the nail into the skin. 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.