Treatment

If the toe is not infected, soaking the foot in warm water will help soften the skin so that the invading nail or spicule can be removed. However, most people who try to fix the problem themselves (a.k.a. bathroom surgery) end up making it worse. The irritation and infection is resolved only by removal of the ingrown portion of nail and drainage of the abscess (swollen pocket of infected skin and puss).

After numbing your toe with a local anesthetic, your podiatrist will remove the offending portion of nail and clear away any infectious debris (figure 1 shown below). You will be advised to soak the toe in warm water and Epsom salt or diluted betadine twice a day for a week. Topical and/or oral antibiotics may be prescribed. If the infection has been present for a long time, an x-ray may be taken to ensure that the underlying bones of the toe are not affected.