An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail digs into the skin beside it, usually on the big toe. It can be red, swollen and very sore, and it often gets infected. In the heat, and in closed shoes, it can flare up again and again.

Why it keeps coming back

Cutting the corner out or taking antibiotics can settle a flare-up, but the nail grows back the same shape. If the nail is naturally curved or too wide for the toe, the problem usually returns within a few months.

A permanent fix

The most reliable treatment is a small procedure under local anaesthetic. I remove the narrow strip of nail that’s digging in and treat the root of that edge so it doesn’t grow back. The rest of the nail stays, and once it’s healed it looks like a normal, slightly narrower nail.

• Takes about half an hour, and you walk out afterwards
• You’ll need a dressing for a few weeks while it heals
• Most people are back in normal shoes fairly quickly

When to get it seen

If it’s been infected more than once, if it keeps coming back, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation, it’s worth getting it sorted properly rather than putting up with it.