Ingrown Toenail: What to Do at Home and When to See a GP

If you have an ingrown toenail, soak your foot in warm salty water, dry it well, wear roomy shoes, and let the nail grow out without cutting or picking at the corner. Many get better this way. See a doctor if there is pus, the swelling grows, you have a fever or you have diabetes. In Spain it is called uña encarnada. This guide is by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).

What is an ingrown toenail?

It is a nail whose edge grows into the skin beside it. The area turns red, swells and hurts when touched or when you wear shoes. If it gets infected, pus may come out and a small lump of red, raw tissue may form that bleeds easily. It most often affects the big toe.

What causes an ingrown toenail?

• Cutting nails too short, or rounding the corners.
• Tight or pointed shoes, or high heels.
• Very sweaty feet.
• An injury to the toe.
• Nails that are curved or thick by nature, sometimes due to toenail fungus.

It is common in teenagers and in people who do a lot of sport.

How do I treat an ingrown toenail at home?

• Soak your foot in warm, salty water for a few minutes, several times a day.
• Then dry it well, including between the toes.
• Wear wide shoes or sandals that do not press on the toe.
• For pain you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the leaflet.
• Let the nail grow out. Do not cut the corner that digs in, or pick at it with scissors or needles.

Do not try to pull the nail out. It can make an infection worse.

How should I cut my toenails to stop them growing in?

Cut them straight across. Do not round the corners, and do not cut them too short: the edge should be level with the tip of the toe. Use clean clippers and cut them after a shower, when they are softer. Choose shoes with room for your toes.

When should I see a podiatrist or a doctor?

If home care is not enough, a doctor can check for infection and decide if you need an antibiotic. A podiatrist (podólogo) treats the nail. They may remove the part that digs in. If it keeps happening, they can remove the edge of the nail and treat its root so it does not grow back. This is done with a local anaesthetic in the toe. In Spain, most podiatrists work in private clinics.

What is paronychia?

Paronychia (paroniquia) is an infection of the skin around a nail, on the fingers or toes. There are two types:

• Acute: it comes on over hours or days, with pain, redness, warmth and sometimes pus beside the nail. It is usually caused by germs getting in through a hangnail, nail biting, a manicure or an ingrown nail.
• Chronic: it lasts for weeks, with swelling and redness that come and go. It is common in people whose hands are often wet, and is sometimes caused by a fungus.

Mild acute paronychia often gets better with warm soaks. If a pocket of pus forms, it may need draining in person. Chronic paronychia improves with dry hands, gloves for wet work and the treatment your doctor suggests.

Ingrown toenails and diabetes

If you have diabetes or poor blood flow to your feet, do not treat the nail yourself. A small wound on the foot can get infected and heal slowly. See a doctor or podiatrist from the start.

When to see a doctor

• It is not better after a few days of home care.
• The toe is swollen, very sore or leaking pus.
• A small lump of red tissue has grown beside the nail.
• The nail keeps growing in.
• You have diabetes, poor circulation or a weak immune system.

When to go to A&E or call 112

Go to A&E if redness spreads up the foot, red streaks run from the toe, you have a fever or chills, or the toe turns dark or cold. Call 112 for very fast breathing, confusion, or blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.

Frequently asked questions about ingrown toenails

Getting a medical assessment

If you have a painful or infected ingrown toenail, you can book a video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a physician registered in Spain. You can also read about urgent care visits and fungal infections. A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.

This guide is general information. It does not replace the package leaflet or the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.