Foot concern
Ingrown toenails
Onychocryptosis
A nail edge pressing into the skin — why cutting it out yourself makes it worse, and how it can be corrected without surgery.
What it actually is
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail curves into the surrounding skin instead of growing over it. It starts as tenderness down one side of the nail and can progress to swelling, redness and a genuinely disproportionate amount of pain for something so small. The big toe is by far the most common site.
Why it happens
- Cutting nails curved down at the corners instead of straight across
- Footwear that presses on the sides of the toe
- A naturally curved or involuted nail shape, which is often inherited
- Trauma — a stubbed toe, or repeated pressure from running or sport
- Digging at the corner to relieve it, which almost always makes it worse
What tends not to work
Cutting a V-shape in the middle of the nail does nothing — the nail doesn't grow inward from the centre, so it can't 'pull the edges in'. And picking out the offending corner at home usually leaves a spike of nail behind, which is what turns a sore toe into an infected one.
How we approach it
Where the nail shape is the underlying problem, correction can often be done without surgery: a brace is bonded to the nail that gradually and painlessly retrains its curvature as it grows. That's a very different proposition from removing part of the nail, and it suits people who've had the same toe treated repeatedly. Where the edge is already deeply embedded or infected, the priority is relieving it safely and getting the infection assessed.
When to see a doctor instead
See your physician the same day if the toe is hot, throbbing, producing pus or streaked with red — and always if you are diabetic or have poor circulation, where a small toe infection can escalate quickly and should never be managed at home.
Treatment
How we treat ingrown toenails
Every treatment is performed by Karilee Slubowski, LPN.
OnyFix Ingrown Toenail Correction
German-patented, non-surgical correction that gently reshapes an ingrown nail — pain-free with no downtime.
New Client Foot Health Exam & Med-Charting
A complete medical foot health assessment with nursing charting and a personalized care plan. Insurance-friendly and may be tax-deductible.
Follow-Up Treatment
Ongoing foot care for returning clients, building on your established care plan.
Questions
Ingrown toenails — common questions
- Can an ingrown toenail be fixed without surgery?
- Often, yes. When the underlying issue is the nail's curvature, a bonded brace can gradually correct the shape as the nail grows, without cutting. Whether that's suitable depends on the nail and how advanced the problem is, which is what the assessment establishes.
- How should I cut my toenails to prevent this?
- Straight across, level with the end of the toe, without rounding down into the corners — and not so short that the skin can fold over the edge. If you can't comfortably reach or see your feet, that's a good reason to have it done for you.
Not sure if this is what you have?
That’s what an assessment is for. Karilee Slubowski, LPNwill tell you what you’re actually dealing with — including when the answer is that you should see your physician instead.
Related: Fungal toenails, Heel pain, Plantar warts