How do I fix the pain on the side of my toenail?

Overview

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, inflamed skin, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe.

Índice Show

When to see a doctor
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Risk factors
Complications
Products & Services
Why is the side of my toenail Painful?
Why does the side of my toenail hurt after a pedicure?
What can I put on my ingrown toenail for pain?
How do you get rid of ingrown toenail pain at home?

Often you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, your health care provider can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications of ingrown toenails.

If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you're at greater risk of complications of ingrown toenails.

Symptoms

Ingrown toenail symptoms include:

Pain and tenderness
Inflamed skin
Swelling
Infection

When to see a doctor

See your health care provider if you:

Experience severe discomfort in a toe, pus or inflamed skin that seems to be spreading
Have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to the feet and you have a foot sore or infection

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Causes

Causes of ingrown toenails include:

Wearing shoes that crowd the toenails
Cutting toenails too short or not straight across
Injuring a toenail
Having very curved toenails
Nail infections
Certain medical conditions

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of ingrown toenails include:

Being an adolescent, when feet tend to perspire more, which softens the nail and skin
Having nail care habits that encourage the nail to grow into the skin, such as cutting the nails too short or rounding the corners
Having a reduced ability to care for your nails
Wearing shoes that constrict the toes
Participating in activities, such as running and kicking, that put your toes at risk of injury
Having a condition, such as diabetes, that causes poor blood flow

Complications

Complications can be especially severe if you have diabetes, which can cause poor blood flow and damaged nerves in the feet. So a minor foot injury — a cut, scrape, corn, callus or ingrown toenail — may not heal properly and become infected.

Prevention

To help prevent an ingrown toenail:

Trim your toenails straight across. Don't curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toe. If you get a pedicure, ask the person doing it to trim your nails straight across. If you have a condition that causes poor blood flow to the feet and you can't trim your nails, see a podiatrist regularly to have your nails trimmed.
Keep toenails at a moderate length. Trim toenails so they're even with the tips of your toes. If you trim your toenails too short, the pressure from your shoes on your toes may direct a nail to grow into the tissue.
Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that place too much pressure on your toes or pinch them may cause a nail to grow into surrounding tissue. If you have nerve damage to the feet, you may not be able to sense if your shoes fit too tightly.
Wear protective footwear. If your activities put you at risk of injuring your toes, wear protective footwear, such as steel-toed shoes.
Check your feet. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for signs of ingrown toenails or other foot problems.

Feb. 08, 2022

Office of Patient Education. Ingrown toenail prevention and treatment. Mayo Clinic; 2014.
Dinulos JGH. Nail diseases. In Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.
High WA, et al., eds. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.
Kelly AP, et al., eds. Nail disorders. In: Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color. 2nd ed. McGraw Hill; 2016. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.
Avram M, et al., eds. Nail surgery. In: Procedural Dermatology. McGraw Hill Education; 2015.
Foot complications. American Diabetes Association. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/foot-complications. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.
Mayeaux EJ, et al. Ingrown toenail management. American Family Physician. 2019;100:158.
Eekhof JAH, et al. Interventions for ingrowing toenails. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2021.
Sokumbi O (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 15, 2021.

Products & Services

Why is the side of my toenail Painful?

Why does the side of my toenail hurt after a pedicure?

If your toenail or the area around the nail appears red, hot or swollen a few days after your pedicure, you may have a bacterial skin or nail infection. Treatment can include antibiotics and possibly an incision to drain the area.

What can I put on my ingrown toenail for pain?

Serious cases may need surgical intervention..

10 common ingrown toenail remedies. ... .

Soak in warm, soapy water. ... .

Soak in apple cider vinegar. ... .

Pack the area with dental floss or cotton. ... .

Apply antiseptic ointment. ... .

Wear comfortable shoes and socks. ... .

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. ... .

Use a toe protector..

How do you get rid of ingrown toenail pain at home?

Soak the foot three or four times daily. Rubbing essential oils on the ingrown toenail is an effective way to soften and soothe the skin, minimize the pain, and hopefully draw the toenail out of the skin. Use dental floss under an ingrown toenail to help shift the nail into the correct growth direction.