Feet Problems What is an ingrown toenail? They are often caused by malcutting, leaving a shard down the side of the nail. Sometimes, the nail shape and tight shoes can exacerbate things. What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail? Pain is usually the first thing that people notice, and this is then often followed by inflammation, reddening, and pus if infected. How serious is an ingrown toenail? Treating ingrown toenails should be quickly as once they develop, they often do not settle on their own. The pressure of the nail on the skin and direction that the nail grows often complicates healing. The longer the wound is open the higher the chance of infection. If infections are left, this can spread further into the body. Ingrown nail treatment There are two main options to consider. If it is a mild and one off occasion caused by a spike of nail, these can often be cut back carefully to resolve the issue. In other cases where this is not possible, a section of the nail can be cut back to the nail root. This makes the nail narrower to take pressure from the skin. A chemical can be applied to this section of nail root to stop it from growing back permanently (allowing the remainder of the nail to continue to grow). Infected ingrown toenail treatment If the nail is infected, the most appropriate procedure can be carried out, and a course of antibiotics can be given to resolve the infection. Ingrown toenail surgery The procedure is very simple and