10 Remedies For Ingrown Toenails - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribe9 Remedies for Ingrown Toenails

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Annette McDermott — Updated on June 24, 2024

Causes
Remedies
Foot soak
Apple cider vinegar
Ointment
Pain reliever
Proper footwear
Toe protector
Toe brace
Pad the area
If infected
Antibiotics
Surgery
Takeaway

Ingrown toenails cause pain, redness, and swelling. Home remedies and medical treatments can help relieve symptoms and prevent future infections.

An ingrown toenail can cause pain and swelling. It can also increase the risk of an infection.

Depending on the severity and any contributing factors, treatments for ingrown toenails can range from home remedies to surgery.

Keep reading to learn what to do about an ingrown toenail, when it needs medical attention, and how to prevent it from happening.

What causes ingrown toenails?

An ingrown toenail happens when the corner or edge of your toenail curves, grows into the surrounding skin and often affects the big toe. An ingrown toenail may cause:

pain
redness or other color changes
swelling
pus, if infected
fever, if infected

Common causes of ingrown toenails include:

toenail trauma, such as stubbing your toe
wearing shoes that are too tight or too loose
cutting toenails too short or at an angle
not practicing regular nail care
excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
certain medications, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors

Treating ingrown toenails as soon as they occur can help prevent infection, especially in people with other health conditions, such as diabetes, that make foot problems more likely.

Mild ingrown toenails may require minor treatment with home remedies, while more serious cases may need medical treatment or surgical intervention.

Home remedies for ingrown toenails

The following home remedies can help relieve pain and promote the healing of an ingrown toenail.

Soaking in warm water

Soaking the affected foot in warm or room-temperature soapy water for up to 20 minutes at a time may help reduce swelling and ease the pain.

Adding Epsom salts to the water may bring additional relief.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons suggests massaging the side where your skin meets the nail. This can help reduce inflammation.

Soaking in diluted apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a folk remedy for many ailments, including ingrown toenails. It may have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving abilities, although scientific evidence on using it for ingrown nails is limited.

But it isn’t likely to cause harm if you properly dilute the vinegar.

To try this remedy, prepare a basin of warm water combined with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. Soak the affected foot for up to 20 minutes daily, then dry thoroughly.

Over-the-counter (OTC) ointment

Using OTC antiseptic ointment or cream may help reduce the risk of infection. Apply the ointment to the affected toenail up to three times daily or as directed on the packaging.

These ointments can include:

neomycin (Neosporin)
bacitracin/polymyxin B (Polysporin)
mupirocin (Bactroban)

Some people may develop allergic reactions to these ointments. If you experience itching, hives, or any other symptom of an allergy, stop using the product and contact a medical professional.

OTC pain reliever

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help relieve ingrown toenail pain. Side effects are unusual unless you take more than the daily recommended amount of two 325-milligram (mg) tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Do not exceed 10 tablets in 24 hours, and avoid using alcohol, as using both at the same time can cause liver damage.

If swelling is present, ibuprofen (Advil) may be a better option because it relieves both pain and swelling. Some common side effects of ibuprofen include:

abdominal pain
upset stomach
diarrhea

Take all OTC pain relievers as directed by the manufacturer or a doctor.

Wearing comfortable shoes and socks

Shoes and socks that are too tight can crowd your toes and lead to ingrown nails. Wearing footwear that’s too big for you can also cause your toes to hit the edge of the toe bed, especially when running or doing physical activity.

To help prevent an ingrown toenail from developing or worsening, wear shoes and socks that fit but leave enough space in the toe bed. Avoid shoes or wear sandals as much as possible during the healing process to limit pressure on your toenails.

Wearing a toe protector

A toe protector provides a cushioning barrier for ingrown toenails. Toe protectors are available as rings that fit around the affected area or as a covering for the entire toe.

Some brands of toe protectors come with a medicated gel to help soften toenails for easy trimming. Use the treatment as directed until the ingrown toenail is gone.

Wearing a toe brace

Toe braces are thin composite devices that hold the toe in place and shield the skin as a new nail grows back. They help treat and prevent ingrown toenails. You can find toe braces online and in some pharmacies.

Separating the nail from the skin with dental floss or cotton

Some experts recommend tucking small bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the edge of an ingrown toenail to encourage proper nail growth.

But not every medical group agrees.

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, placing cotton under your nail may increase pain and allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Soaking the cotton or floss in alcohol before application may help reduce this risk.

Medical treatment for ingrown toenails

Some ingrown toenails may require medical intervention. Consider getting medical treatment if:

you have a health condition that causes poor circulation, such as diabetes, as this can increase your risk of severe complications
your ingrown toenail appears infected, or you have concerning symptoms, such as pus
your ingrown toenail doesn’t resolve on its own
you’re in pain or have difficulty walking

Oral antibiotics

A doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics for a severe ingrown toenail infection that doesn’t respond to other remedies and treatments. Oral antibiotics help reduce pain and swelling while also fighting infection.

Symptoms of infection may include:

increased redness or color changes
throbbing pain
increased swelling
pus
warmth in the affected toe and its surrounding area
foul odor

Some antibiotics used to treat infected ingrown toenails include:

ampicillin (Omnipen)
amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag)
vancomycin (Vancocin)

Surgical procedures

If an ingrown toenail doesn’t improve with home remedies, partial or total nail removal may be necessary. Using a local anesthetic, a doctor may remove part of the nail’s border, the underlying nail bed, or part of the middle growth plate.

In severe, recurring cases, the doctor may recommend removing the entire ingrown nail. This is the last resort and a potentially painful solution that may increase the risk of infection and a misshapen toenail when it grows back.

Prevention tips

Move around carefully to avoid toenail trauma.
Trim your toenails straight across, no shorter than the tip of your toe.
If your job increases your risk of toenail injury, wear protective footgear.

Takeaway

Ingrown toenails can be painful but are usually easy to treat at home. Wearing proper-fitting shoes, trimming your nails straight across, and soaking your feet can help prevent them.

Ingrown toenails usually heal without causing permanent damage. But, sometimes, they can lead to severe complications. Talk with a doctor if you have an underlying condition that puts you at risk for complications, such as diabetes.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Chabchoub I, et al. (2022). Ingrown toenails.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546697/
Dulski A, et al. (2023). Paronychia.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544307/
Habeeb T, et al. (2020). Altering toenail biomechanic in managing ingrown toenail. Randomized controlled study.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405857220300206
Hassan RE, et al. (2024). Surgical strategies for ingrown toenails: A comprehensive review of techniques, outcomes, and advancements.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874229/
Ingrown toenail. (n.d.).https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/ingrown-toenail
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Ingrown toenail treatment. (2021).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513139/
Liu C-W, et al. (2018). Efficacy of a new nail brace for the treatment of ingrown toenails.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29500908/
Mayeaux EJ, et al. (2019). Ingrown toenail management.https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0801/p158.html
Yagnik D, et al. (2021). Antibacterial apple cider vinegar eradicates methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and resistant Escherichia coli.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7817673/

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Annette McDermott — Updated on June 24, 2024

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