How To Treat an Ingrown Fingernail

Medically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MDMedically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MD

When you think of ingrown nails, you may think of your toes. Although it's less common, ingrown fingernails can happen, too. An ingrown fingernail occurs when the sharp edge of your fingernail grows into the skin on the side of your finger.

Ingrown fingernails are especially common for teenagers and adults who are over the age of 50. While having an ingrown fingernail, you may experience redness, pain, and sometimes pus from the skin around the ingrown fingernail. They often develop due to improper nail trimming, such as cutting your fingernails too short or uneven.

You can typically treat ingrown fingernails at home with nail care. However, more severe cases involving pain and swelling around the nail may require prescription medication or a minor surgical procedure. Taking care of your nails at home can prevent ingrown fingernails from happening again.

Ingrown Fingernail Symptoms

Ingrown fingernails can be very painful. Picking at your nail can make the pain worse. Severe symptoms of ingrown toenails are very similar to symptoms of a severe ingrown fingernail.

Symptoms will be more severe if the ingrown fingernail becomes infected. An infected nail is called paronychia. Symptoms of paronychia include:

• Swollen skin around the nail

• Redness

• Pain

• Soreness and tenderness

• Pus leakage

• Bleeding

Causes

Ingrown fingernails tend to be minor conditions that don't always result in other symptoms. Some people are naturally born with a nail that is too big for their fingers, which can increase the likelihood of ingrown fingernails.

Other cases of ingrown fingernails are caused by picking or biting at your fingernails or trimming them too short. Cuts around the nail bed or hangnails can also contribute to an ingrown nail.

A cut on your finger, a hangnail, or too-short nails can also allow bacteria to get inside and cause an infection. Many types of bacteria can lead to a fingernail infection, but common types include Staphylococcus aureus (commonly called staph) or Streptococcus pyogenes. Yeast (like Candida) and other fungi can also cause infections under or around the nail.

Teenagers and people over the age of 50 may experience ingrown fingernails more often. This is because these populations experience changes in fingernail thickness. Nail brittleness is also more common with age.

Some physical labor-heavy jobs, such as moving heavy objects or writing with the ring and middle finger, may put pressure on the nail bed.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider or dermatologist (a doctor specializing in skin, hair, and nail conditions) can examine your nails to determine the best treatment for you.

If your ingrown fingernail becomes infected, your healthcare provider may diagnose you with paronychia. Paronychia usually happens after an injury to the nail, like biting your nails, pulling on your hangnails, improper nail trimming, using contaminated nail tools, or pushing roughly on the cuticle.

Treatments for Ingrown Fingernails

Treatment depends on how severe your ingrown fingernail is. Mild ingrown fingernails that cause little to no pain can usually be treated at home. This may involve lifting the sharp corner of your nail away from your skin and inserting a piece of cotton between the skin and the nail.

Soaking your hand in warm water 3-4 times daily and drying it well can keep it safe from infection. You can also take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain.

If your pain is too intense to treat at home or you notice other symptoms, see your healthcare provider for treatment. Although not typical, your healthcare provider can remove the affected portion of the nail from your skin to reduce your pain. Your treatment regimen will also include preventing your ingrown fingernail from happening again.

If you have an infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic or suggest removing the nail—a procedure called nail avulsion (extremely rare for ingrown nails). During nail avulsion, your healthcare provider will numb the nail with an anesthetic before completely removing it. You may feel some pain afterward if the nail is completely removed.

How To Prevent Ingrown Fingernails

If the problem is congenital (has existed naturally since birth), ingrown nails may recur even if you take steps to prevent it. Ingrown nails caused by other factors can be prevented by protecting your nails from injury and keeping them clean.

How you trim your nails is important. Cut your nails following their shape, and try not to cut too unevenly on either side. Keeping your nails at a healthy length (not too short) can prevent an ingrown nail. Researchers suggest not keeping your nails any shorter than the edge of your fingertip.

Related Complications

If your ingrown fingernail progresses to an infection, pain and other symptoms can spread from the nail to nearby tissue. Although rare, a severe infection may come from cellulitis (infection of the skin) or osteomyelitis (a bone infection). Scarring may also occur where the nail is.

In severe cases, a healthcare provider may have to try ablation. During this procedure, the provider applies a small electrical charge or chemical to the nail bed to keep the nail from growing back in the treated area. Ablation is a newer form of treatment that is not as frequently used on ingrown fingernails since they tend to heal without medical intervention.

A Quick Review

For many people, ingrown fingernails can return, especially during the teenage years. If so, you can try at-home treatments like soaking the nail in warm water to avoid pain.

If the pain intensifies, see a healthcare provider for other treatment options. They may suggest removing the nail or prescribing medications to reduce pain, discomfort, and any symptoms of infection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hydrogen peroxide help ingrown fingernails?

Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic (a substance that prevents skin infections). However, hydrogen peroxide can sometimes hurt more than it helps, potentially causing irritation around the affected skin. Talk to your healthcare provider before using hydrogen peroxide on an ingrown fingernail.

Do ingrown nails go away on their own?

Mild ingrown nails, especially ones caught early, may go away on their own if you take steps to treat them at home. If you are experiencing pus leakage and persistent pain, consult a healthcare provider for treatment.

When should you go to the ER for an ingrown nail?

Ingrown nails don’t often require ER visits, but you may want to go if the pain is severe and feels unbearable. Seek care if you also notice blood or pus leakage.

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