What is an Ingrown Toenail What is an ingrown toenail Ingrown toenails occur when the nail starts to pierce the skin and soft flesh surrounding it. This is quite common and typically affects the big toes. Often this condition is caused by: Wearing tight shoes that push the toes together Cutting your toenails too short or not straight across Having unusually curved nails Injury to the area, such as stubbing your toe A mild ingrown toenail can often be resolved with simple or over-the-counter treatments. However, for moderate and severe cases, and if the area becomes infected or the condition is complicated by other health issues such as diabetes, it would be best to seek specialist advice from a podiatrist. Symptoms Symptoms of an ingrown toenail tend to be localised to the area, and include: Pain and tenderness on the side of the toe next to the nail Redness Swelling Infection of the tissue around the nail; there may be some pus Treatments Home remedies can be quite effective in minor cases, which may include: Soak your feet in warm salty water daily to flush the area Place a small amount of cotton wool under the toenail in the affected area, to separate the nail and damaged area of skin Apply antibiotic cream to prevent infection Wear appropriate footwear, with wide toe boxes, to avoid additional pressure on the toe NSAID's or other painkillers can help control pain levels while the issue is resolving If the area is infected, very painful or recurs often, a specialist may of