What is an ingrown toenail?

When a toenail becomes ingrown, it begins to grow into the skin surrounding your toenail. It will often times become red, painful, swollen and warm. If the ingrown toenail happens to break the skin, an infection or abscess may occur in the area, which can cause the toe to drain fluid and create a foul odor if left untreated. Ingrown toenails can be caused from a variety of reasons. Many people improperly trim their toenails too short, which in turn leads to the surrounding skin to grow over the edge of the nail. Improperly fitting shoes and trauma to the nail itself can create problems. Other nail disorders like toenail fungus may cause the toenail to become curved instead of being flat leading an infection. For those who have medical conditions like diabetes, impaired circulation or nerve damage, it is highly recommended that you seek medical attention from your podiatrist.