An ingrown toenail develops when the edge or corner of a nail presses into the surrounding skin. It most commonly affects the big toe and may cause tenderness, redness, swelling, and pain when walking or wearing shoes.
Early symptoms may sometimes improve with appropriate nail care, but persistent pain, increasing swelling, pus, repeated episodes, or difficulty walking should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Severe or recurrent cases may require a minor nail procedure.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail occurs when part of the nail grows or becomes embedded in the skin beside it. Pressure from the nail irritates the surrounding tissue and may lead to inflammation. If the skin breaks, bacteria can enter and cause an infection.
Although any toenail can be affected, the condition most frequently develops along one or both sides of the big toenail. Some people experience a single episode, while others develop repeated symptoms because of nail shape, footwear, trimming habits, or another contributing factor.
Patients with persistent nail pain can arrange nail disorder assessment and treatment in Sharjah at Emirates European Hospital.
What does an ingrown toenail look and feel like?
Symptoms may begin gradually and become more noticeable when pressure is placed on the toe. Common signs include:
- Pain or tenderness along one side of the nail
- Redness around the nail edge
- Swelling of the surrounding skin
- Discomfort while walking or wearing closed shoes
- Skin growing over part of the nail
- Bleeding or fluid around the nail edge
- Pus, warmth, or increasing pain when infection develops
- Repeated inflammation in the same part of the toe
Not every painful or discoloured nail is ingrown. Fungal infection, injury, thickened nails, inflammatory skin disease, and other nail conditions can produce similar symptoms.
What causes ingrown toenails?
An ingrown nail may result from one factor or a combination of factors. Common contributors include:
- Cutting the toenail too short
- Rounding or digging deeply into the nail corners
- Tight, narrow, or poorly fitting footwear
- Repeated pressure on the toes during work or sport
- Injury to the nail or toe
- Naturally curved, wide, or thick nails
- Excessive sweating that softens the surrounding skin
- Difficulty trimming the nails because of limited movement or poor vision
- Previous nail problems or procedures
Sometimes an ingrown toenail develops despite reasonable nail care because the natural shape of the nail encourages its edge to press into the skin.
Can an ingrown toenail heal without surgery?
Mild, early cases without pus, severe swelling, or significant infection may sometimes improve with conservative care. The appropriate approach depends on the condition of the nail, the severity of pain, the patient’s health, and whether the problem has happened before.
General measures may include keeping the foot clean and dry, avoiding tight footwear, protecting the toe from pressure, and allowing the nail to grow without cutting deeply into its sides. Do not force sharp objects, cotton, or unapproved materials beneath a painful nail without medical advice.
Home care should not delay assessment when symptoms are worsening. People with diabetes, reduced circulation, nerve damage, or reduced immunity should seek medical guidance before attempting to manage the nail themselves.
When should you see a doctor for an ingrown toenail?
Arrange a medical assessment if:
- Pain is persistent or getting worse
- Redness or swelling is increasing
- Pus, bleeding, or unpleasant drainage appears
- The toe feels hot or becomes very tender
- The nail repeatedly becomes ingrown
- Pain affects walking, work, sleep, or footwear
- The nail is thick, damaged, or difficult to cut
- You are uncertain whether the problem is an ingrown nail or another condition
A dermatologist can examine the nail and surrounding skin, check for infection, identify contributing factors, and decide whether conservative treatment or a procedure is more suitable.
Which symptoms may indicate an infection?
An infected ingrown toenail may cause increasing redness, warmth, throbbing pain, swelling, pus, or an unpleasant discharge. The surrounding skin may become very sensitive and make walking difficult.
Seek prompt medical care if redness spreads beyond the toe, red streaks appear, fever develops, pain becomes severe, or you feel generally unwell. These symptoms may indicate that the infection is extending beyond the immediate nail area.
Do not repeatedly squeeze the toe, cut into swollen tissue, or use leftover antibiotics. Medication should be selected only after proper medical assessment.
Why is early assessment important for people with diabetes?
People with diabetes may have reduced sensation, impaired circulation, slower wound healing, or a higher risk of complications from foot infections. A small nail injury may therefore be more serious than it initially appears.
Patients with diabetes, circulation problems, neuropathy, kidney disease, immune suppression, or a history of difficult wound healing should seek professional care early. They should not cut deeply into the nail, puncture the swollen area, or attempt to remove part of the nail at home.
How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?
The doctor usually diagnoses an ingrown toenail by examining the nail, nail folds, skin, and affected toe. The assessment may consider:
- How long the symptoms have been present
- Whether the problem is new or recurrent
- The severity of pain, swelling, and drainage
- The shape, thickness, and direction of nail growth
- Signs of bacterial or fungal infection
- Previous injuries or nail procedures
- Diabetes, circulation, immunity, and wound-healing risks
Additional testing is not required for every case. A sample or other investigation may be considered when the diagnosis is uncertain, infection is unusual or persistent, or another nail disorder is suspected.
When may nail surgery be recommended?
A nail procedure may be considered when:
- Conservative treatment has not relieved the symptoms
- The ingrown toenail is severe or repeatedly returns
- There is significant overgrowth of inflamed tissue
- Pain interferes with walking or normal activities
- The nail edge remains deeply embedded in the skin
- Infection or drainage continues despite appropriate treatment
- The nail is severely thickened, damaged, or deformed
The decision is individualized. Not every ingrown toenail requires removal, and the dermatologist will discuss the most appropriate option after examining the toe.
Emirates European Hospital provides nail surgery in Sharjah for selected severe, painful, or recurrent nail conditions after dermatologic assessment.
Does the entire toenail need to be removed?
Not always. In many cases, only the problematic side or section of the nail may need treatment. Partial nail removal preserves the unaffected portion while relieving pressure from the ingrown edge.
Complete nail removal may be considered in selected cases involving extensive nail damage, deformity, infection, or another medical indication. The procedure chosen depends on the nail’s condition and the reason symptoms keep returning.
Patients can also learn more about the hospital’s nail avulsion procedure in Sharjah.
What happens during an ingrown toenail procedure?
The toe is cleaned, and local anesthesia is commonly used to numb the treatment area. The clinician then removes or treats the portion of nail responsible for the pain. In selected recurrent cases, treatment of part of the nail-producing tissue may be considered to reduce the chance of the same edge growing back.
A dressing is applied after the procedure. The exact technique, expected healing period, and follow-up plan depend on the severity of the condition, the type of procedure, and the patient’s health.
Is nail surgery painful?
The injection used for local anesthesia may cause brief discomfort. Once the toe is numb, patients should not feel sharp procedural pain, although pressure or movement may still be noticeable.
Temporary tenderness can occur after the anesthesia wears off. The clinical team will provide instructions about suitable pain relief, dressing care, footwear, activity, and follow-up.
How should you care for the toe after nail surgery?
Follow the individualized instructions provided by the treating team. Aftercare may include:
- Keeping the initial dressing clean and dry
- Changing the dressing at the recommended time
- Cleaning the toe only as instructed
- Wearing open or roomy footwear
- Reducing pressure and strenuous activity during early healing
- Taking prescribed medication correctly
- Attending scheduled wound checks
Contact the hospital if pain is increasing rather than improving, bleeding does not settle, swelling or redness spreads, discharge becomes excessive, fever develops, or the wound does not appear to be healing.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery varies according to whether part or all of the nail was treated, whether the nail-producing tissue was addressed, the presence of infection, and the patient’s healing ability.
Many patients can perform light daily activities relatively soon, but prolonged standing, tight footwear, running, and sports may need to be limited during early healing. The treating clinician can provide guidance based on the procedure and the condition of the wound.
Can an ingrown toenail come back after treatment?
Yes. Recurrence may happen if the nail grows back with the same curved shape, the corner is cut too deeply again, tight footwear continues to compress the toe, or the original ingrown section was not fully addressed.
For frequently recurring cases, the dermatologist may discuss a procedure designed to reduce regrowth of the troublesome nail edge. No treatment can guarantee that recurrence will never occur, but appropriate procedure selection and preventive care may reduce the risk.
How can you help prevent ingrown toenails?
- Cut toenails straight across rather than deeply rounding the corners
- Avoid trimming nails extremely short
- Use clean, suitable nail-cutting tools
- Wear shoes with enough space around the toes
- Change damp socks and keep the feet reasonably dry
- Protect the toes during sports and physical work
- Do not tear or pick at nail corners
- Seek professional help if thick nails are difficult to trim safely
Regular foot checks are particularly important for people with diabetes or reduced sensation in their feet.
Ingrown toenail treatment at Emirates European Hospital
The Dermatology Department at Emirates European Hospital assesses ingrown toenails and other painful, infected, thickened, or abnormal nails in Sharjah. Treatment is selected according to the diagnosis, symptom severity, recurrence, and the patient’s overall health.
Dr. Giana Ilia Mamari, Dermatologist and Cosmetic Medicine Specialist, provides dermatology assessment for skin, hair, and nail conditions at Emirates European Hospital.
To arrange an assessment for a painful or recurrent ingrown toenail, book an appointment in Sharjah or call 06 561 9444.
This article provides general educational information and does not replace an examination, diagnosis, or individualized treatment plan from a qualified healthcare professional.