What Causes an Ingrown Toenail?
Aug 20, 2025
An ingrown toenail might not sound like a big deal until you’ve had one. They’re uncomfortable, unsightly, and seem to show up out of nowhere. But there’s almost always a reason they develop. Small things you do every day without realizing it, like how you trim your toenails or what shoes you wear, can cause your nail to grow into the surrounding skin.
Our expert team at South Texas Foot Surgeons, PA, in San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas, specializes in treating ingrown toenails with care and precision. Whether it’s your first ingrown nail or a recurring issue, we can alleviate the problem and keep it from coming back.
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, instead of straight out. Most of the time, this happens to the big toe, but the issue can affect any toe. The area becomes red, tender, and swollen, and if bacteria gets in, it can become infected, too.
Some people are more prone to ingrown nails than others, but anyone can develop one. At first, you might just notice some mild tenderness near the affected nail. But as the nail continues to grow into the skin, your toe can become painfully inflamed. Here’s what to look out for:
If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s time to get your toe checked — especially if you’ve had an ingrown toenail before. In more serious cases, the skin can get infected, sometimes even spreading to the bone if left untreated.
Common cause of ingrown toenails include:
Cutting your toenails too short, or curving them at the edge, increases the chance of the nail growing inward instead of outward. It’s one of the most common causes of ingrown nails and, luckily, one of the easiest to fix.
Shoes that squeeze your toes, whether it’s due to narrow width or just being a size too small, put pressure on your toenails. Over time, that pressure can force the nail to grow into the surrounding skin, especially if the nail is already prone to curving inward.
If your nails are naturally curved, or your nail beds are particularly wide, you might be more likely to develop ingrown toenails — even with proper nail trimming care.
Kicking something hard, stubbing your toe, or repeated stress from sports can change how your big toenail grows. Trauma can cause the nail to thicken, lift, or curve, making it more likely to dig into your skin as it grows back.
Athletes, dancers, runners, and those who spend long hours on their feet are more likely to develop ingrown toenails. Repeated pressure and impact on the toes can lead to inflammation and make this uncomfortable problem more likely.
It’s tempting to grab some nail clippers or tweezers and try to dig out the ingrown yourself. But doing so can make things worse. You risk breaking the skin, introducing bacteria, or damaging the nail bed, which can lead to recurring ingrown nails or long-term nail issues.
Home remedies like soaking your feet may provide temporary relief, but they won’t fix the underlying problem. If there’s any sign of infection, waiting too long to seek care can lead to more serious complications, especially for people with diabetes or circulation problems.
The safest and most effective way to resolve an ingrown toenail is to see a podiatrist. At South Texas Foot Surgeons, PA, our team can gently remove the ingrown portion of the nail, treat any infection, and guide you on how to prevent its recurrence.
Ingrown toenails often develop from simple daily habits, but they’re not something you should ignore. Whether you’re dealing with a mild case or a painful infection, we can help — schedule a visit at South Texas Foot Surgeons, PA, in San Antonio or Kerrville, Texas, today.