An ingrown toenail happens when the corner or edge of your toenail grows into the skin around it, and deep into your toe. An ingrown toenail can have many causes including shoes that are too tight, trauma, or trimming your nails incorrectly.
Ingrown toenails can cause pain, swelling, and even infection. If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail, you know how painful it can be. If you want to learn more about the stages of an ingrown toenail, and at what stage you should see a doctor, continue to read below.
4 Ingrown Toenail Stages You Need to Know
1st Ingrown Toenail Stage: Mild Pain and Redness
At first, an ingrown toenail might not seem like a big deal. You may notice symptoms like:
A little pain when you touch or press on the side of your toe
Redness around the nail
Swelling
At this stage, your best bet is to take action right away. If caught early, it's possible to prevent your ingrown toenail from getting worse. Tips for an early-stage ingrown toenail include:
Soak your foot in warm water with Epsom salt for about 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
Gently lift the edge of the nail using a piece of clean dental floss or a small cotton ball.
Avoid tight shoes and socks that press on your toe.
Trim your nails straight across (not rounded) to prevent further growth into the skin.
Storytime: My fianceè recently was dealing with a flare-up of an ingrown toenail. He usually is able to manage them at home since they are stage 1. I encouraged him to do Epsom salt soaks for a couple of days, and over a week, his symptoms improved. He hasn't had any problems since.
2nd Ingrown Toenail Stage: Swelling and Increased Pain
If the ingrown toenail isn’t treated early, it will more than likely get worse. At this stage, you might notice:
More pain, even when you're not touching your toe
Increased redness and swelling
Warmth around the toe
A small amount of pus or drainage
To help with these symptoms, try:
Continuing warm foot soaks
Keeping your foot clean and dry
Wearing open-toed shoes or loose-fitting footwear to relieve pressure
If the pain is getting worse, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. A foot doctor can remove the nail edge that’s causing trouble.
Stage 3: Infection and Severe Pain
At this stage, the ingrown toenail is truly infected. Symptoms of a stage 3 ingrown toenail can include:
Throbbing pain that makes it hard to walk
A lot of swelling around the toe
More pus, sometimes with a bad smell
The skin around the nail turns red or purple
If you reach this stage, home treatments won't be enough. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. They will, for most people, perform ingrown toenail removal.
Stage 4: Chronic or Severe Ingrown Toenails
Some people get ingrown toenails over and over again. If that’s you, it might be because of:
Wearing tight shoes or high heels too often (Storytime: I had a patient who had ingrown toenails to both big toes from a pair of new huarache sandals)
Cutting nails too short or rounding the edges
Injury to the toe
The natural shape of your toenails (some are just more curved than others)
In these cases, a doctor may suggest a more permanent fix with a stage 4 chronic or severe ingrown nail. This can include:
Partial Nail Removal – The doctor removes the part of the nail causing problems.
Total Nail Removal – In very bad cases, the whole nail is removed.
Matrixectomy – A procedure where the nail root is destroyed so the ingrown part won’t grow back.
Permanent ingrown toenail removal involves an added step of applying a chemical during the ingrown toenail removal surgery procedure to burn the nail root. This stops the ingrown nail from coming back at the corner, or the whole toenail from growing back.
Preventing Ingrown Toenails
The best way to deal with ingrown toenails of any stage is to prevent them! Here are 4 ways to prevent ingrown toenails:
Trim Nails Properly – Cut your nails straight across and not too short.
Wear Comfortable Shoes – Avoid tight shoes that squeeze your toes. Pressure on your toes can increase your risk of ingrown toenails.
Protect Your Feet – If you play sports or do activities where your feet are at risk, wear protective footwear.
Do not pick at the skin around your nails – This helps prevent infections, and inflammation and keeps nails healthy.
When to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor at any of the ingrown toenail stages if:
The pain is getting worse, even after trying home treatments
You notice a lot of pus or a bad smell
The redness is spreading up your toe or foot
You have diabetes or another condition that affects healing
Key Takeaways
Ingrown toenails can be painful, but they can be managed or dealt with permanently. Being mindful, aware, and proactive of your feet and foot health is important, so don’t ignore these warning signs. If you have an ingrown toenail, addressing it now can get you back to being pain-free and healed a lot faster.
Schedule Your Appointment At Direct Podiatry Arizona Today
Are you dealing with an ingrown toenail and are looking for a podiatrist in Phoenix? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona. To view my available appointment times, click here.
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