Getting ingrown toenails isn’t exactly uncommon, though that doesn’t make them any less serious, since severe cases of ingrown toenails can seriously impact your day to day life, and potentially be an indicator of worse conditions like a fungal infection.

Don’t try to treat them yourself, though. Many people who get ingrown toenails try to do “bathroom surgery” on themselves, which can involve trying to cut away the ingrown portion of the toenail.

By cutting down the side of your toenail, a sharp nail spike may be created. The spike grows into the side wall (sulci) of the toenail and causes a significant amount of pain. An infection can then develop, making it painful to the touch.