How Are Ingrown Toenails Treated?

Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home by soaking the foot in warm water, applying antibiotic cream to the area, and wrapping the toe in gauze or bandages. It is important to keep the area clean to help prevent infection. Your doctor may also place a piece of cotton under the nail to separate it from the skin that it is growing into, encouraging growth above the edge of the skin.

For more severe or recurrent cases, ingrown toenail treatment may involve the removal of part of the nail and the underlying tissue to remove the infection. Removal can be done through a chemical, laser, or other methods.