Ingrown Toenail Treatment
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail presses into the surrounding skin. It can start as mild tenderness and quickly become painful, swollen, or infected—making walking and footwear uncomfortable.
Our Ingrown Toenail Treatment focuses on safe relief, reducing pressure at the nail edge, and helping prevent recurrence. We’ll also advise when a podiatry referral is the safest next step.
Signs you may have an ingrown toenail
You might notice:
Pain or tenderness at the side of the nail (often the big toe)
Redness, swelling, or warmth around the nail
A feeling of pressure or “sharp” pain in shoes
Broken skin, discharge, or an unpleasant smell (possible infection)
Overgrown skin at the nail edge (sometimes called “proud flesh”)
What’s included in your appointment
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![Assessment]()
Assessment
Assessment of the nail, surrounding skin, and signs of infection
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![A pair of silver nail clippers with a curved cutting edge.]()
Removal
Gentle, careful removal of the problematic nail edge where appropriate
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![Dentist in a mask and gloves performing a dental procedure on a patient]()
File
Reducing pressure and smoothing the nail to prevent it catching
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![A young man with dark skin and short hair sitting on a beige bench against a plain wall, wearing a gray polo shirt and cream-colored pants, looking to the side.]()
Cleaning and Dressing
Cleaning and dressing advice if the skin is broken
When we may need to refer you to podiatry
Some ingrown nails need more advanced management than a routine appointment can provide. We may recommend referral to a podiatrist (or GP / urgent care depending on severity) if:
The nail is recurrently ingrown despite conservative care
There is significant swelling, “proud flesh,” or persistent bleeding
There are clear signs of infection (spreading redness, discharge, heat, increasing pain)
You may benefit from a partial nail avulsion (removing a section of nail)
The nail is severely curved, thickened, or difficult to manage safely
You have diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy, immune suppression, or delayed healing risk and the toe is broken/infected
We’ll explain exactly why we’re recommending referral and what the likely treatment options are.
Locations
We offer ingrown toenail care appointments across: Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth, Newent, Ledbury, Forest of Dean
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Book your appointment
If you’re experiencing toe pain or suspect an ingrown nail use the link below to book an appointment today