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Ingrown Toenail Treatment

20 August 2024

By Mark Reyneker, B.T. Pod (SA), MSc (SA) Registered Podiatrist & Human Gait Specialist Founder / Clinical Director, Family Podiatry Centre

Illustration of an inflamed ingrown toenail on a big toe, highlighting the affected area requiring treatment.
Published: 20 August 2024 | Last reviewed: 27 July 2026 

Ingrown Toenail Treatment

There are two main types of treatments for ingrown toenails. The non-surgical conservative treatment and the surgical treatment. Both can be very effective and must be selected based on the type of ingrown toenail you have developed and the underlying cause.

1. Conservative Treatment:

For mild cases of ingrown toenails or for first time sufferes, conservative treatment is the first line of defense. This approach may involve either using a specialised nail nipper to clip out the nail spike that is growing in. One could also use techniques like placing cotton under the nail to help it grow above the skin. While this method can be effective, it often requires consistent care and monitoring. According to studies, conservative treatment can achieve success rates of approximately 70-90%, particularly when the condition is addressed early (Eekhof et al., 2012). It is also more likely to be effective if there are no genetic nail issues or permanent nail damage from shoes or nail fungal infections.

2. Surgical Treatment:

For more severe or recurrent cases, a minor surgical procedure may be necessary. The most common procedure is a partial nail avulsion combined with nail root/matrix ablation, which involves removing a portion of the nail and applying a chemical to prevent regrowth. This method has shown a high success rate of 95-98%, significantly reducing the likelihood of recurrence (Bostanci et al., 2001; Romero-Pérez et al., 2017).  

Early treatment can prevent complications and ensure a faster recovery. When the condition persists extra skin develops and grows over the ingrown toenail leaving the toe deformed. Self treatment by cutting down the side of the nail leaves broken shards of nail behind that encourage deeper infections.

Find out how to prevent ingrown toenails.

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Disclaimer: The word "treatment" in this article refers to the care and management of a patient’s health to prevent, cure, or improve a condition. Treatment results vary and do not necessarily indicate a cure. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Persistent, severe, unusual or progressively worsening heel pain should be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

About the author
Mark Reyneker is a podiatrist and human gait specialist with 8 years of training and over 25 years of clinical experience. He is the Founder and Clinical Director of Family Podiatry Centre and has a Bachelors degree in Podiatric Medicine and a Master’s degree in paleoanthropology, with research focused on human foot function and metatarsal loading.

References:
  1. Bostanci, S., Ekmekçi, P., & Gürgey, E., 2001. Chemical matricectomy with phenol for the treatment of ingrowing toenail: a review of the literature and follow-up of 172 treated patients. Acta Derm Venereol, 81(3), pp.181-183.

  2. Eekhof, J.A.H., van Wijk, B., Knuistingh Neven, A., & van der Wouden, J.C., 2012. Interventions for ingrowing toenails. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001541. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001541.pub3.

  3. Romero-Pérez, D., Betlloch-Mas, I., & Encabo-Durán, B., 2017. Onychocryptosis: A long-term retrospective and comparative follow-up study of surgical and phenol chemical matricectomy in 520 procedures. International Journal of Dermatology, 56(2), pp.221-224.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are two primary types of treatments such as non-surgical conservative treatment and surgical treatment. The best option is selected based on the severity of your ingrown toenail and its underlying cause.

Conservative treatment is the first line of defense for mild or first-time cases. This approach may involve using a specialized nail nipper to carefully clip out the ingrown nail spike.

When addressed early, conservative treatments have a success rate of roughly 70-90%. This method requires consistent care and is most effective if you do not have genetic nail issues, permanent damage from footwear, or nail fungal infections.

A minor surgical procedure is generally required for severe or recurrent cases where conservative methods are not enough to resolve the issue.

The most common surgical method is called a partial nail avulsion combined with nail root/matrix ablation. A podiatrist will remove the problematic portion of the nail and apply a chemical to the root to prevent the ingrown section from growing back.

Surgical treatment via partial nail avulsion with matrix ablation has an incredibly high success rate of 95-98%, which significantly reduces the likelihood of the ingrown toenail returning.

No, self-treating by cutting down the side of the nail is highly discouraged. This often leaves broken shards of the nail behind, which can encourage deeper, more severe infections.

If the condition persists without professional intervention, extra skin can develop and grow over the ingrown nail, which can ultimately leave the toe deformed. Early treatment prevents these complications and ensures a faster recovery.

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