In-growing toenails are more common than you might think. We often see patients who have struggled with a painful toenail that became infected. They then go and see the GP who offers them antibiotics. This just temporarily solves the problem, and the pain returns once the antibiotics wear off.

This article should inform you of what an ingrown toenail is, how you might get an ingrown toenail, and how to treat this problem.

Characteristics of an in growing nail

• Painful toe with or without wearing shoes. Pain when walking
• red and inflamed skin on side of the nail

Infection may be present where the nail may have the following addition of symptoms:

• Strong odour
• Swelling
• Redness
• Puss produced from the bulging skin
• Very painful to touch, in shoes or walking

Causes

• Tight shoes or shoes that are not your size
• Trauma to the nail, this could be a sports injury, dropping heavy objects on the nail or just bumping the nail into hard surfaces
• Nail shape if your nails are...