An ingrown toenail occurs when your nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain and discomfort that can significantly impact your daily activities. This common foot condition affects people of all ages and can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Understanding what causes an ingrown toenail helps you take preventive steps and know when to seek professional care. If you’re experiencing persistent toe pain or signs of infection, visit Associated Foot Care Clinic for expert diagnosis and treatment.
What is an ingrown toenail?
An ingrown toenail develops when the nail edge grows into the soft tissue of your nail bed instead of growing straight out. This condition most commonly affects the big toe, though it can occur on any toe. The nail penetrates the skin, creating an open wound that becomes painful, inflamed, and susceptible to bacterial infection. Without proper treatment, the affected area can develop pus, excessive swelling, and severe pain that makes walking difficult.
6 Signs You Have an Ingrown Toenail
- Pain and tenderness – You’ll feel sharp or throbbing pain around the nail area, especially when pressure is applied or when wearing shoes.
- Redness and swelling – The skin around your nail bed becomes inflamed, appearing red and puffy compared to your other toes.
- Warmth around the nail – The affected area feels noticeably warmer than the surrounding skin due to inflammation and possible infection.
- Pus or drainage – Yellow or white discharge may appear around the nail, indicating a bacterial infection has developed.
- Overgrown skin – Extra skin tissue may grow over the ingrown nail as your body attempts to heal the wound.
- Bleeding – Minor bleeding can occur when the nail cuts into the surrounding tissue or when the area is bumped.
6 Common Causes of an Ingrown Toenail
Lack of Proper Nail Trimming
Cutting your toenails incorrectly is the leading cause of ingrown toenails. Many people cut their nails too short or round the corners, which encourages the nail to grow into the surrounding skin. When you trim your nails in a curved shape rather than straight across, you create sharp edges that can easily penetrate the nail bed. Using dull or dirty nail clippers can also cause jagged cuts that increase your risk of developing an ingrown toenail.
Tight or Ill-Fitting Shoes
Wearing shoes that squeeze your toes creates constant pressure on your nail bed, forcing the nail to grow inward. High heels, pointed-toe shoes, and athletic shoes that are too small compress your toes and alter normal nail growth patterns. This external pressure is especially problematic for people who spend long hours on their feet or participate in activities that involve repetitive toe movement. Even socks that are too tight can contribute to nail bed pressure and ingrown toenail formation.
Genetic Predisposition
Some people inherit naturally curved or thick toenails that are more prone to becoming ingrown. Your genetic makeup determines your nail shape, growth pattern, and the structure of your toe bones, all of which influence your susceptibility to ingrown toenails. Family history plays a significant role, as nail characteristics are often passed down through generations. If your parents or siblings have experienced recurring ingrown toenails, you’re more likely to develop this condition yourself.
Toe Injuries
Direct trauma to your toe can damage the nail or surrounding tissue, leading to irregular nail growth. Stubbing your toe, dropping heavy objects on your foot, or experiencing sports-related injuries can cause your nail to grow in an abnormal direction. Even minor injuries that seem insignificant at the time can result in nail bed damage that manifests as an ingrown toenail weeks or months later.
Poor Foot Hygiene
Inadequate foot care creates conditions that promote ingrown toenail development and infection. When you don’t keep your feet clean and dry, bacteria and fungi can thrive around your nail bed, increasing inflammation and infection risk. Neglecting regular nail maintenance allows nails to become overgrown and more likely to penetrate the surrounding skin.
Medical Conditions
Certain health conditions increase your risk of developing ingrown toenails. Diabetes affects circulation and healing, making you more susceptible to foot problems, including ingrown nails. Fungal nail infections can cause nail thickening and deformity that leads to ingrown growth patterns. Arthritis and other conditions that limit mobility make proper nail care difficult, while medications that affect nail growth or immune function can also contribute to ingrown toenail development.
How do I stop getting ingrown toenails?
- Trim your nails straight across – Cut your toenails in a straight line rather than following the curve of your toe, leaving the corners slightly visible to prevent them from growing into your skin.
- Keep nails at proper length – Maintain nail length that extends just beyond the tip of your toe, avoiding both excessively short cuts and overgrown nails that can curve inward.
- Choose properly fitting shoes – Wear shoes with adequate toe room that don’t squeeze or compress your toes, ensuring at least a thumb’s width of space between your longest toe and the shoe’s end.
- Maintain good foot hygiene – Wash your feet daily with soap and water, dry them thoroughly, and keep your nails clean to prevent bacterial and fungal infections.
- Use quality nail care tools – Invest in sharp, clean nail clippers and avoid tearing or picking at your nails, which can create irregular edges that grow into surrounding skin.
- Soak feet in warm water – Regular warm water soaks help soften your nails and skin, making proper trimming easier and reducing inflammation around the nail bed.
- Inspect your feet regularly – Check your toes weekly for early signs of ingrown nail development, allowing you to address problems before they become severe.
- Avoid repetitive toe trauma – Protect your feet during sports and physical activities, and be mindful of activities that repeatedly impact your toes.
4 Risks of an Ingrown Toenail
Bacterial Infection
An untreated ingrown toenail creates an open wound that provides easy entry for harmful bacteria. The warm, moist environment around your nail bed creates ideal conditions for bacterial growth, leading to painful infections that produce pus and increased swelling.
Chronic Pain and Mobility Issues
Persistent ingrown toenail pain can significantly impact your daily activities and quality of life. The constant discomfort makes walking, exercising, and wearing shoes extremely difficult, potentially leading to changes in your gait that cause secondary problems in your feet, ankles, and legs.
Nail Bed Damage
Repeated ingrown toenail episodes can cause permanent damage to your nail bed and surrounding tissue. Chronic inflammation and infection can lead to scarring that affects future nail growth patterns, making you more susceptible to recurring ingrown toenails. In severe cases, the nail bed may become so damaged that normal nail growth becomes impossible.
Abscess Formation
Severe ingrown toenail infections can develop into abscesses, which are pockets of pus that form deep within the tissue. Abscesses cause intense pain, significant swelling, and can spread infection to other parts of your foot or leg. These complications typically require surgical drainage and aggressive antibiotic treatment. Untreated abscesses can lead to tissue death and may necessitate partial toe amputation in extreme cases.
Conclusion
Understanding what causes ingrown toenails empowers you to take preventive action and recognize when professional treatment is necessary. Most ingrown toenails result from preventable factors like improper nail trimming, tight shoes, and poor foot hygiene that you can address with simple lifestyle changes.
Don’t let an ingrown toenail progress to serious complications that could affect your mobility and health. Schedule an appointment with us at Associated Foot Care Clinic for expert evaluation and treatment, and follow our Facebook page for helpful foot care tips while reading our Yelp reviews to learn about other patients’ experiences.
