Ingrown Toenails

Painful ingrown toenails can be the result of genetic over-curvature of the nail, overgrowth of the skin surrounding the nail (i.e., nail fold), or due to pressure against shoes, tight hosiery, or adjacent toes [3]. Injuries or infections can change the shape of the nail plate and additionally contribute to ingrown nails. Cutting the nail too short or cutting deeply into the corners of the nail can allow the nail to pinch the skin along the side as it grows. Often a spicule of nail is left when the nails are self-cut and this spicule becomes embedded in the skin. When walking, there is sometimes abnormal pressure along the side of the big toe pushing the skin up and around the side of the nail—this is especially true for those of you with flat feet. Toenail over-curvature may also be caused by a bony prominence beneath the nail (discussed in greater detail in the section “Subungual Exostosis”).