You may need emergency treatment. Koop Ingrown toenails occur when the sharp corners of sides of the nail press into the flesh of the toe, causing pain, swelling or redness on one or both sides of the toenail, usually on the big toe. Typically, this happens when the toenails are cut too short, or because tight shoes or hosiery press the nail into the toe. Repeatedly jamming toes into the ends of your shoes can contribute to the problem. It also seems to run in families.
Ingrown toenails can become inflamed or infected.
Fortunately, they are easily treated at home. Infections can be treated with antibiotics and severely ingrown toenails can be cut away by a doctor using local anesthetic. What You Can Do at Home Trim the excess nail, and put a strip of sterile cotton under the corner of the nail to lift it away from the skin. Poke it in with an orange stick. Change the cotton daily until the nail grows out.