

If your ingrown toenail has become infected, you shouldn't attempt to treat it yourself. "The first thing is, if they're infected, they need to be seen by a podiatrist," says Alan K. Mauser, DPM, a podiatrist in Louisville, Ky.


  1. Try a foot soak. Allow your sore toe to soak in a warm salt water bath for 15 minutes a couple of times every day. This soak can help relieve pain and swelling in an ingrown toenail. Dry your foot completely after each soak.
  2. Keep your foot dry except when soaking.
  3. Take an over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  4. Gently pull the skin away from the nail using a small nail file or other blunt device that won't cut or hurt the toe.
  5. Stuff tiny pieces of clean, moist cotton between the ingrown toenail and the skin to help separate them and provide a little cushioning to the skin. You can soak the cotton in a bit of water or an antiseptic cleanser first.
  6. Rub your toe with antibiotic ointment to help reduce your chance of developing an infection.
  8. Choose shoes that are easy on your toes. Shoes made of soft fabrics with a wide toe are a good choice — try wearing sandals if you can. Avoid shoes that pinch the toes or place pressure on the ingrown toenail.
  10.   See a podiatrist if you see signs of infection, or if your ingrown toenail keeps coming back.

Ingrown toenails are often a recurring problem. "If it's a problem, if it's recurrent, you should see a podiatrist who can fix the problem," says Mauser. "It's a small surgical procedure where you permanently remove the ingrown corner of the nail.

Prevention is often your best method for controlling the pain of ingrown toenails. There are numerous ways to prevent toenails from curving over and digging into the skin of your toe. Buying properly fitting footwear (it shouldn't squeeze the toes) and cutting your toenails correctly (not too short and in a straight line across), are two easiest methods. "Once you start digging down the sides you're probably going to get an infection," says Mauser.

