The Simplest Ways To Fix An Ingrown Fingernail

Medical News Today

• Health Conditions

  Health Conditions

  • Alzheimer's & Dementia
  • Anxiety
  • Asthma & Allergies
  • Atopic Dermatitis
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • COVID-19
  • Diabetes
  • Endometriosis
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Exercise & Fitness
  • Eye Health
  • Headache & Migraine
  • Health Equity
  • HIV & AIDS
  • Human Biology
  • Leukemia
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Nutrition
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Psoriasis
  • Sexual Health
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Women's Health
• Health Products

  Health Products

  All
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Vitamins & Supplements
  • CBD
  • Sleep
  • Mental Health
  • At-Home Testing
  • Men’s Health
  • Women’s Health
• Discover

  News

  • Latest News
  • Medicare 2026 Costs

  Original Series

  • Medical Myths
  • Honest Nutrition
  • Through My Eyes
  • New Normal Health

  Podcasts

  All
  • Artificial sweeteners and brain aging: What we know so far
  • Does the Mediterranean diet hold the key to longevity?
  • AMA: Registered dietitian answers 5 key questions about fiber and weight loss
  • Health misinformation and disinformation: How to avoid it
  • Brain health, sleep, diet: 3 health resolutions for 2025
  • 5 things everyone should know about menopause
• Tools

  General Health

  • Drugs A-Z
  • Health Hubs
  • Newsletter
  • Medicare Plans by State

  Health Tools

  • Find a Doctor
  • BMI Calculators and Charts
  • Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide
  • Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide
  • Sleep Calculator

  Quizzes

  • RA Myths vs Facts
  • Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction
• Connect

  About Medical News Today

  • Who We Are
  • Our Editorial Process
  • Content Integrity
  • Conscious Language

  Find Community

  • Bezzy Breast Cancer
  • Bezzy MS
  • Bezzy Migraine
  • Bezzy Psoriasis

  Follow Us

SubscribeHow to fix an ingrown fingernailMedically reviewed by Bukky Aremu, APRN — Written by Jennifer Berry — Updated on February 24, 2025

• Methods
• Infections
• Prevention
• Ingrown nail vs. hangnail
• Summary

Home treatments for ingrown fingernails include soaking and physical manipulation of the nail. If these do not help, a person can see a doctor to remove the ingrown nail.

In this article, learn about some home remedies for an ingrown fingernail, as well as some symptoms that may indicate an infection.

Methods

Share on Pinterest

If the nail appears to be pushing into the skin or curving downward, it is likely an ingrown nail.

People with diabetes, neuropathy, or circulation problems should not try to treat ingrown nails at home. They should see a doctor for safe treatment in these cases.

Before trying to treat the ingrown nail at home, wash the hands thoroughly with soap and water.

One of the following remedies may help:

Soaking

Soaking the finger may help the nail grow outward on its own. This works well for mild ingrown nails that are not causing pain or other symptoms.

To soak the ingrown fingernail:

• Fill a clean container with warm salt water.
• Soak the affected hand in the water.
• Rinse the hand and dry it with a clean towel.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it loosely with a bandage.

Using cotton or gauze

If soaking alone does not bring relief within a day or two, a person can try gently encouraging the nail to grow upward with cotton or gauze.

After soaking, take a tiny piece of clean gauze or cotton and insert it under the nail. This can help relieve pressure and pain, separating the nail from the skin slightly.

Replace the cotton at least once per day until the nail has grown out and healed.

Using dental floss

Sometimes, it is too difficult to insert a piece of cotton under the nail. In these cases, it may be easier to use waxed dental floss.

After soaking and washing the hands, gently thread a clean piece of dental floss under the nail’s ingrown edge.

Seeing a doctor

If home care does not treat the ingrown nail, a health professional can remove the part of the nail that is causing the issue.

Some people get repeated ingrown nails. In these cases, a doctor may suggest removing the nail with an in-office procedure.

Infections

An ingrown nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter the body through a break in the skin. These bacteria or fungi can multiply, causing an infection.

A person should inform a doctor if any symptoms of infection develop. These might include:

• pain
• redness or inflammation
• pus or fluid
• reddish streaks on the skin
• fever

To help prevent infections, try to practice good hand washing techniques. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend scrubbing the hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water.

People with long fingernails should also scrub underneath the nails. The CDC say that long fingernails can accumulate more dirt and bacteria because of their length.

Use a clean towel to dry the hands and nails after washing.

If there is a cut or break in the skin, a person should cover it with antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage to help keep germs out.

Prevention

The most common cause of ingrown fingernails is cutting the nails too short. The American Academy of Dermatology recommend following these steps for safe nail trimming:

• Soak them first: Softer nails are easier to trim. Take a bath or shower or soak the nails in warm water for a few minutes before trimming them.
• Use clean, sharp tools: Disinfect nail clippers and emery boards with rubbing alcohol at least once per month. Do not use clippers that have rust or that have become worn out or dull.
• Use fingernail clippers for fingers: Do not use toenail clippers on fingers, and vice versa.
• Cut the nails straight across: Do not cut the edges much shorter.
• Round the edges gently: To round the edges of fingernails, use a clean nail file or emery board. Move the file in the same direction. Avoid a back-and-forth sawing motion.
• Do not cut the cuticles: Cuticles are a layer of protection for nails. Trimming them increases the risk of infection.
• Use hand cream: Keeping the hands and nails moisturized can help prevent them from drying and cracking.
• Monitor for any nail changes: Nails that have a different color, texture, or shape may point to another health issue. If this occurs, contact a doctor.

Ingrown nail vs. hangnail

A hangnail is another common issue that can cause pain and inflammation near the fingernail’s edge. However, a hangnail has different causes and treatments to ingrown nails.

A hangnail forms from skin cells that separate and grow away from surrounding skin. The result is a spiky shaped piece of skin next to the fingernail. Despite their name, hangnails are not nails at all. They are pieces of excess skin.

A person should not pull or bite a hangnail to remove it. This can leave an injury on the finger that could cause an infection.

Instead, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and gently clip it with clean nail clippers close to the base.

If it bleeds or is painful, apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage to help it heal.

Summary

Ingrown fingernails are not usually serious, and a person can treat them at home. Home remedies include soaking the nail, using cotton or gauze, or lifting the nail with dental floss.

However, if the nail shows signs of infection or a person has other health conditions, they should see a doctor.

 

• Dermatology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today 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.

• About handwashing. (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/
• How to trim your nails. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/nail-care-secrets/how-to-trim-nails
• Healthy habits: Nail hygiene. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/nail-hygiene.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Bukky Aremu, APRN — Written by Jennifer Berry — Updated on February 24, 2025

Latest news

• Supplements that support gut health may also benefit skin health
• Longevity: Here's how coffee may benefit healthy aging
• 5 healthy habits may help keep the brain younger, even with chronic pain
• A 1-week social media break could boost your mental health
• Certain changes in driving patterns may point to cognitive decline, dementia

Related Coverage

• Nail diseases chart: Identification and remediesMedically reviewed by Bukky Aremu, APRN

  Common nail diseases include nail psoriasis, fungal infections, paronychia, and more. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for common nail…

  READ MORE
• What to do if a toenail is falling off

  What causes a toenail to fall off, and what do you do when this happens? We look at causes, recovery time, removing the nail, and when to see a doctor.

  READ MORE
• What you need to know about nail fungal infectionMedically reviewed by University of Illinois

  A look at nail fungal infection, including who is at risk, common causes, effective treatments, and the symptoms. Learn more here.

  READ MORE
• What is a medical pedicure, and what does it involve?Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP

  A medical pedicure or medi-pedi is a professional foot treatment that focuses on foot health and hygiene rather than appearance. Learn more about who…

  READ MORE
• Causes of swollen feet

  There are many causes of swollen feet, including hot weather, a sprained ankle, or blood clot in the leg. Find out more here.

  READ MORE