The new nail grows in behind the old nail, pushing it away from the nailbed. If the nailbed is too unstable, the nail may need to be trimmed or removed by a healthcare provider. Ingrown toenails can be trimmed and carefully lifted up to place cotton underneath. This allows the nail to grow out straight rather than into the flesh. If this is not enough, just the ingrown portion of the nail can be permanently removed.
Local anesthesia is used to numb the toe, and the ingrown portion of the nail is removed.
The growth tissue underneath is killed with a chemical or by laser surgery . If an ingrown nail has caused an infection, the person usually needs to take antibiotics. Sometimes the ingrown nail acts as a chronic source of irritation, and the infection can not be cleared until the nail is temporarily removed. If the nail has been a constant source of trouble, it may be permanently removed after the infection is over. It's very rare to permanently remove the whole nail for an ingrown nail.