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Common Conditions We Treat at Vitality Urgent Care

Condition icon: Skin
Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of a nail grows into the skin beside it. It causes pain, redness, and swelling, most often on the big toe. Mild cases improve with home care, but infected or repeat ingrown toenails need treatment.

What Is It

Cutting nails too short or rounded, tight shoes, toe injuries, and curved nails raise the risk. Teens and athletes get them often. People with diabetes or poor circulation should have them checked early, because foot infections can become serious.

Symptoms

  • Pain along the edge of the nail
  • Redness and swelling
  • Tenderness when pressing on the toe
  • Pain in shoes
  • Pus or drainage, which means infection
  • Extra skin growing over the nail edge

Not sure it’s infected? Redness and warmth spreading up the toe or foot may be cellulitis. A pocket of pus may be an abscess that needs draining.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider examines the toe and checks for infection. When needed, the toe is numbed and the ingrown edge of the nail is removed. Spreading infection may need antibiotics. Nails that keep growing in may need a podiatrist.

At home:

  • Soak the foot in warm water for 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day
  • Wear roomy shoes or sandals
  • Keep the toe clean and dry
  • Cut toenails straight across, not too short

Mild ingrown toenails often improve within a week of home care.

When to Get Care for an Ingrown Toenail

Watch at Home

  • Mild pain and redness with no pus
  • Improving with warm soaks
  • No fever

Come to Urgent Care Today

  • Pus, drainage, or increasing redness
  • Pain not improving after a few days of soaks
  • An ingrown toenail with diabetes or poor circulation
  • Ingrown toenails that keep coming back
  • Pain that makes it hard to walk or wear shoes

Go to the Emergency Department

  • Red streaks spreading up the foot or leg
  • Fever with a red, hot, swollen foot
  • A dark, cold, or numb toe

FAQ

How do I know if my ingrown toenail is infected?

An infected ingrown toenail has pus or drainage, increasing redness, swelling, warmth, and worsening pain. Spreading redness or fever needs care right away.

Can an ingrown toenail heal on its own?

A mild ingrown toenail can heal on its own with warm soaks and roomy shoes. An infected or repeat ingrown toenail usually needs treatment.

Should I cut out an ingrown toenail myself?

Do not cut out an ingrown toenail yourself. It can make the infection worse. A provider can remove the edge safely after numbing the toe.

How do I prevent ingrown toenails?

Prevent ingrown toenails by cutting nails straight across, not too short, and wearing shoes with enough room for your toes.

Can urgent care remove an ingrown toenail?

Yes, urgent care can treat most ingrown toenails. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can examine the toe and remove an ingrown edge when needed.

Is an ingrown toenail dangerous with diabetes?

An ingrown toenail can be more serious with diabetes because foot infections spread faster and heal slower. Get it checked early.

Last reviewed October 2026

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