Ingrown toenails are a common yet often painful foot condition that can disrupt daily life and cause discomfort. Whether you're experiencing the occasional twinge or battling chronic ingrown nails, understanding their causes, prevention strategies, and treatment options is essential for maintaining healthy and pain-free feet.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails:

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to irritation, inflammation, and potential infection. While ingrown nails can affect anyone, certain factors may increase the risk of developing this condition:

1. Improper Nail Trimming: Cutting nails too short or rounding the edges can encourage ingrown toenails by allowing the nail to penetrate the skin as it grows.
2. Ill-Fitting Footwear: Tight shoes or socks can exert pressure on the toes, pushing the skin into the nail and promoting ingrowth.
3. Trauma or Injury: Stubbing your toe or sustaining repetitive trauma can cause the nail to grow irregularly, increasing the likelihood of ingrown toenails.
4. Genetics: Some individuals may inherit traits such as curved nails or excessive nail thickness, predisposing them to ingrown toenails.

Read more on this blog. 

Treatment Options:

When conservative measures fail to alleviate ingrown toenail symptoms, various treatment options are available to provide relief and prevent recurrence:

1. Conservative Treatments: Soaking the foot in warm water, applying antibiotic ointment, and gently lifting the nail edge may relieve mild ingrown toenail discomfort.
2. Ingrown Toenail Surgery: For persistent or severe cases, ingrown toenail surgery may be necessary to remove the offending portion of the nail and prevent future ingrowth. This outpatient procedure can often be performed under local anesthesia and offers a permanent solution to recurrent ingrown toenails.
3. Partial Nail Avulsion: In cases where ingrown toenails are chronic or recurrent, partial nail avulsion involves removing a portion of the nail or the nail bed to prevent further ingrowth.
4. Nail Bracing: Nail bracing techniques may be used to realign the nail and promote proper growth, particularly in patients with structural abnormalities or recurring ingrown nails.

At Flawless Feet we carry out a minor procedure known as nail surgery to remove ingrown toenails. If the word ‘surgery’ gives you the creeps, rest assure this is not a theatre operation. The procedure is carried out at our clinic by one of our podiatrists, who will explain every step in detail and make sure you feel comfortable and at ease.

Step by step

• We anaesthetise your toe; it’s just a quick injection which means you won’t be able to feel anything during the procedure.
• We remove the outside edge of your nail- the bit that causes the pain.
• We use a chemical to kill a small section of the cells that grow nails, stopping that section of nail from ever re-growing.
• We dress your toe to keep it clean, ready for you to go home.
• Generally the treatment for two toes takes about an hour.

Benefits of Surgery for Ingrown Toenails:

Permanent Solution: While conservative treatments like soaking the foot in warm water or using antibiotics may provide temporary relief, surgery offers a permanent solution to recurring ingrown toenails. By removing a portion of the nail or the nail bed, surgery prevents the nail from growing into the skin again. The success rate of nail surgery is 95% but there is a 5% chance of regrowth. This will, in all likelihood, require a further procedure to deal with the problem.

Relief from Pain and Discomfort: Ingrown toenails can cause significant pain, especially when walking or wearing shoes. Surgery alleviates this discomfort by eliminating the source of irritation and allowing the toe to heal properly.

Prevention of Infection: Untreated ingrown toenails can become infected, leading to more severe complications such as abscesses or cellulitis. Surgery not only removes the ingrown portion of the nail but also reduces the risk of infection, promoting faster healing.

Improved Nail Appearance: In addition to relieving pain, ingrown toenail surgery can improve the appearance of the affected nail. By reshaping the nail or removing the ingrown portion, surgery restores the nail to its natural contour, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Minimal Downtime: Many patients are hesitant to undergo surgery due to concerns about recovery time. However, ingrown toenail surgery typically involves minimal downtime, allowing patients to resume their daily activities shortly after the procedure.

Customised Treatment: As a podiatrist, I understand that each patient is unique, and their treatment should be tailored to their specific needs. Ingrown toenail surgery allows for a customised approach, ensuring optimal results based on the individual's condition and preferences.

Prevention Strategies:

Preventing ingrown toenails involves adopting proactive measures to maintain proper foot care and reduce risk factors. Consider implementing the following prevention strategies:

1. Trim Nails Correctly: Cut nails straight across and avoid rounding the edges to prevent ingrowth.
2. Wear Proper Footwear: Choose shoes with adequate toe room and avoid tight or narrow footwear that can compress the toes.
3. Protect Your Feet: Wear protective footwear in environments where your feet are at risk of injury, such as construction sites or athletic activities.
4. Maintain Good Hygiene: Keep your feet clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection, which can exacerbate ingrown toenails.
5. Regular Foot Checks: Monitor your feet for signs of ingrown toenails, such as redness, swelling, or tenderness, and seek prompt treatment if necessary.

Ingrown toenails can be a source of discomfort and frustration, but with the right knowledge and proactive steps, you can effectively manage this common foot condition. By understanding the causes, implementing preventive measures, and exploring treatment options, you can take control of your foot health and enjoy a life free from ingrown toenail woes. Remember, consulting with a qualified podiatrist is key to receiving personalised care and achieving optimal outcomes for your feet.

Don't let ingrown toenails hold you back – take the first step towards healthier, happier feet today!

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Dealing with an ingrowing toenail can be incredibly painful and disruptive, especially when symptoms like big toe pain and a red, swollen toe start to interfere with daily activities. For many ingrowing toenail patients in the UK, finding the right solution—whether it's an ingrowing toenail cream for quick relief or a professional ingrowing toenail removal procedure—is essential to regaining comfort and mobility. In this guide, we'll explore the causes, symptoms, and effective treatment options available, so you can find the best way to manage and prevent ingrowing toenails.

Last updated: 15 October 2026 · Reviewed by the Flawless Feet podiatry team

So, What Are The Main Causes Of Ingrowing Nails?

1. Badly cut toenails — cutting the nails too short or curving down at the corners encourages the skin to fold over the nail edge
2. Stubbing your toe — a direct knock can change the way the nail grows afterwards
3. Repeated micro-injuries — kicking a ball all day or repeated pressure can gradually distort the nail
4. Shoes that are too tight — cramming wide feet into narrow shoes squeezes the nail into the surrounding skin
5. Picking or tearing at your toes — this leaves jagged nail edges that dig in as they grow
6. Sweaty feet — soft skin is easier for the nail edge to press into, which is why teenagers are so often affected
7. Genetics — naturally curved or fan-shaped nails run in families

A few of these causes you can't do anything about; you might be genetically pre-dispositioned to have ingrowing toenails or have inherited sweaty feet; accidents also happen, which may randomly cause your toenail to grow incorrectly. The others you do have control over. It is vital that you trim your (and your children's) toenails correctly; straight across, do not curve down at the sides. You may love thin, pointy shoes, but if you have wide feet, you will be cramming your feet into them, putting pressure on them for hours.

If you've ever had an ingrowing toenail, you'll know the agony it causes; the nail poking into your flesh can cause pain for every step you take. It can be difficult to sleep as even the weight of the duvet can be too much on your toe, let alone the extreme shooting pains that happen if someone accidentally steps on your toe! Ouch doesn't cover it!

We hear of people who have lived with ingrowing toenails for years; they go around this cycle.

If they are lucky, they can keep it at bay; it's not what we recommend; ideally, we'd like to assess and treat them. Picking out the nail and relieving the pressure will never sort the problem; it will always return. If they are unlucky, at some point when they are picking at the nail, they will introduce an infection into the skin, which will lead to the toe becoming:

• Swollen
• Red
• Bleeding
• Infected and oozing pus

Once this happens, the pain and embarrassment triple; they will probably need medication to treat the infection, and the open wound can take a long time to heal.

What The Latest Evidence Says (2026)

Ingrowing toenails are one of the most researched foot conditions, and the picture from recent studies — including a 2025 network meta-analysis comparing every major treatment approach — is reassuringly clear:

• Antibiotics alone don't fix the problem. They can clear the infection, but unless the nail edge causing it is treated, the cycle simply restarts once the course finishes.
• Adding phenol to nail surgery dramatically cuts recurrence. Pooled trial data shows that applying phenol to the nail root during a partial nail avulsion reduces the risk of the nail growing back wrong by around 85–90% compared with removing the nail alone.
• Success rates are high. Partial nail avulsion with phenolisation consistently reports success rates of around 88–95% in clinical studies — which is why it remains the gold-standard permanent fix.
• Mild cases can respond to conservative care. Gutter splints, cotton nail casts and nail bracing can help early, non-infected nails — especially in teenagers or during pregnancy — but they demand consistent professional follow-up and don't work once the nail is deeply embedded.
• Earlier is easier. Treating the nail before infection sets in means shorter appointments, faster healing and far less pain.

To stop going around this circle for the rest of their lives, patients need to invest in their health and book in for our permanent solution, ingrowing toenail surgery. Our expert podiatrists perform it in our clinic; it takes about an hour, it's under anaesthetic, and aftercare is included.

Winter is the ideal time to book an ingrowing toenail appointment, as it will take a few weeks for the toe to heal and a few months for the nail to grow back.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

For those fortunate enough to have not experienced an ingrowing toenail, follow these tips:

• Cut your toenails properly — straight across, never curved down at the sides
• Wear wider shoes that give your toes room to spread
• Wear the correct size so your toe isn't bumping into the end
• Check your feet regularly for early redness or tenderness at the nail edges
• Keep up a good foot hygiene routine — clean, dry feet and fresh socks

Many of our patients are nervous about ingrowing toenail surgery; we are happy to chat through the procedure, so call us on 020 3713 8361, or look at our Surgery Page. Everyone must have an assessment appointment first, so we can also run through any concerns.

Ingrowing Toenails: Frequently Asked Questions

We have had a recent rise in ingrown toenail cases. It is a horrible thing to live with: the pain with every step makes the day awful and stops you doing the activities you love. An ingrowing toenail can quickly become infected if you aren’t careful, causing even more problems.

What Is An Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of your nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness and swelling. Left treated, it can become infected and make even walking uncomfortable. You might have an ingrown toenail if you notice:

• Tenderness or pain along one or both sides of the nail
• Redness, swelling or skin growing over the nail edge
• Weeping, pus or signs of infection
• Pain that worsens in enclosed shoes or when walking

Don’t feel embarrassed by your toes — we are used to all sorts of foot problems and there is a skill to trimming toenails properly. You can read more about the causes of ingrowing toenails on our dedicated webpage: Ingrowing Toe Nails.

Why Do Ingrown Toenails Develop?

Whichever way they form, they all require treatment — from advice on good toenail trimming techniques through to surgery. Common causes include:

• Genetics — some people are simply prone to ingrown toenails
• Injury — stubbing your toe or sports trauma
• Thickening nails with age — frustratingly, this can also lead to ingrown toenails
• Poor trimming technique — cutting nails too short or rounding the corners

We will always assess and discuss the best treatment choices for you personally.

Nail Surgery — A Permanent Fix

People often find the word “surgery” a bit daunting — please don’t. This is something we are expert at and perform many times a week. We have a 95% success rate, and even for that last 5% we just need an extra appointment to solve it. Nail surgery is a permanent solution — knowing you will be free from pain with every step you take is worth the investment.

How We Do It

1. We anaesthetise your toe — a quick injection means you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
2. We remove the outside edge of your nail — the bit that causes the pain.
3. We use a chemical to kill a small section of the cells that grow nails, stopping that section from ever re-growing.
4. We dress your toe to keep it clean, ready for you to go home.
5. Generally, treatment for two toes takes about an hour.

What To Expect Afterwards

• You are in charge of your toe for a couple of weeks — we tell you exactly how to change the dressing and keep it clean.
• Shoe choice is key for a couple of weeks after surgery; you will need open, sandal-style shoes to allow for the dressing.
• Plan for a few weeks of no sports and rest your foot as much as you can.
• Be ready for the relief of never having ingrowing toenail problems again!
• Plan a shoe shopping spree — you will now be proud to have your toes on display.

We have some photos and video clips on our social media accounts. Lots of people prefer not to look, as the toes do look sore and covered in iodine — and some patients like to watch and ask lots of questions, which is also fine. Either way, we are here to answer any questions you have about toenail surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions