An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin.

There are several things you can do yourself to treat mild ingrown toenails and prevent them from getting worse, including: practise good foot hygiene; trim the nail straight across; gently push the skin away from the nail using a cotton bud (using a small amount of olive oil to soften the skin); wear comfortable shoes that are not too tight and provide space around your toes; and painkillers, such as paracetamol, can be used to help relieve any pain.

Surgery may be recommended in cases where an ingrown toenail is more severe. This may involve either removing a section of the affected toenail or removing the whole nail. Surgery usually takes 20-30 minutes and can be performed under a local anaesthetic. Following surgery, you should rest your foot and keep it raised for 1-2 days. The bandage can be removed 2 days after having nail surgery.