How long can you go with an ingrown toenail?

Anyone who follows home care advice for ingrown toenails, but does not see any improvement within 2–3 days should speak to a doctor. It is also important to seek medical attention if there are signs of an infection.


What happens if you have an ingrown toenail for too long?

Leaving an ingrown toenail untreated can become very serious. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can spread to the bone beneath and infect your bone. You can also develop gangrene, which is the death and decay of the tissue. Diabetes is a particularly serious risk for foot disorders.

How long is too long for an ingrown toenail?

Call Your Doctor If:

Not improved after 7 days.


When should I be worried about an ingrown toenail?

When to see a doctor. The dividing line between relying on home care and seeking medical help for an ingrown toenail is if you see signs of infection. If the pain worsens considerably, or if you see pus or blood, increased redness, nail discoloration, or notice a bad odor, you need to seek professional care promptly.

Can I leave an ingrown toenail alone?

Minor ingrown toenails can heal on their own as the nail grows out. However, severe or infected ingrown nails require professional medical care. It's important to learn the signs of an ingrown nail infection so you know when it's time to go to the doctor.


How to Treat an Ingrown Toenail Without Surgery



How long can you ignore an ingrown toenail?

If you don't see an improvement in 2-3 days or see pus oozing from the nail, make an appointment with Dr. Perel.

How long can you go without treating an ingrown toenail?

Anyone who follows home care advice for ingrown toenails, but does not see any improvement within 2–3 days should speak to a doctor. It is also important to seek medical attention if there are signs of an infection.

How urgent is an ingrown toenail?

If you've been experiencing tenderness or painfulness in your toe for extended periods of time, or you have an ingrown toenail condition that's recurring, it may be time to see your physician. Any sign of infection, such as pus, merits an immediate visit to your doctor.


Should I go to the ER for an ingrown toenail?

SEE A DOCTOR: If you have any worrisome symptoms like unbearable pain, unusual swelling, pus, odor, or warmth in the affected toe and its surrounding area, have a doctor take a look. An emergency room can remove ingrown toenails if necessary.

How long should I wait to see a doctor for an ingrown toenail?

If you detect any signs of an ingrown toenail infection like pain, swelling, irritation, abscess, redness, you should immediately go to see a foot doctor or podiatrist.

How do you know if your ingrown toenail is getting worse?

Redness, swelling, and throbbing can all be signs of an infection. Similarly, feeling pressure under the nail and/or its being warm to the touch can also indicate a problem. Another red flag is if the toe is foul-smelling or draining pus or fluid.


How do I get rid of a deep ingrown toenail?

Cutting an Ingrown Toenail
  1. Soak your foot in Epsom salt or Castile soap for 30 minutes to soften the toenail. ...
  2. Wash your hands. ...
  3. Push the skin back from the nail border. ...
  4. Cut the toenail straight across, starting at the toenail edges.


What happens if ingrown toenail is not removed?

Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful, and the skin may appear swollen and red. If they aren't treated promptly, ingrown toenails can become infected. If you have diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation, the risk of infection is higher.

How do I know if my toe infection is serious?

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and notice red streaks on your skin that lead away from the infected area on your toe, as these symptoms indicate a more severe infection. An infected toenail can impact your daily life, but it doesn't have to.


What is a severe ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin. The big toe is often affected, either on one or both sides. The nail curls and pierces the skin, which becomes red, swollen and tender. Other possible symptoms include: pain if pressure is placed on the toe.

Can ingrown toenail make you sick?

Although rare, an ingrown toenail that's left untreated can cause some dangerous problems. Two of these possible, though uncommon, complications include: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterial infection that doesn't respond to most medications. Gangrene, death of body tissue.

What will a doctor do for an infected ingrown toenail?

For a more severe ingrown toenail (inflamed skin, pain and pus), your health care provider may numb the toe and trim or remove the ingrown portion of the nail. It could take 2 to 4 months for your toenail to grow back.


Will an infected toenail heal itself?

Will an Infected Toe Heal Itself? An infection can sometimes go away on its own, but it may need treatment. If you have diabetes, and redness and swelling don't go away or have painful joints or muscles, you should see your doctor.

How do hospitals remove ingrown toenails?

During this surgery, the doctor will numb your toe. Then he or she will cut the edge of the ingrown toenail and pull out the piece of nail. To prevent the nail from growing into the skin again, your doctor might destroy all or part of the nail root. This is called ablation.

What is the fastest way to get rid of a ingrown toenail?

One of the fastest and easiest ways to treat a case of an ingrown toenail is to soak the affected toe in an Epsom salt solution. The best way to do this is to put the toe in water while rubbing the Epsom salt into the affected area.


How do I know if my ingrown toenail is infected?

Symptoms of an infected ingrown toenail include:
  1. redness or hardening of the skin around the nail.
  2. swelling.
  3. pain when touched.
  4. pressure under the nail.
  5. throbbing.
  6. bleeding.
  7. build-up or oozing of fluid.
  8. foul smell.


What does an infected ingrown toenail look like?

Yellowing, thick or cracked nails (specifically with fungus infections) An abscess filled with puss, located where the jagged edge of the nail is puncturing the skin. Throbbing. Pain in and around the toe.

Can an infected toe lead to sepsis?

Even a particularly bad ingrown toenail that becomes infected can lead to sepsis, he says, although that is not a common occurrence.


Can infected toe make you sick?

An infection in your toe may also be accompanied by fever, sweating, chills, nausea, a lack of appetite, and weight loss.

Can an ingrown toenail become permanent?

Many people suffering from painful ingrown toenails can get temporary relief with clipping the corner of the nail, applying a topical ointment or soaking the foot in Epsom salt. When an ingrown toenail fails to improve with home remedies or becomes infected, then Permanent Ingrown Toenail Removal is often indicated.