Make sure the ends of the brace do not extend beyond the sides of your toenail, this will cause pain. For best results, this end should be tucked slightly into the nail fold to be able to pull the skin away more easily.

It doesn't mean cutting a neat little 'v' in the middle, but cutting back the middle of the nail (to stop it hitting the shoe and deal with growth) while leaving the two edges of the nail (where they meet the skin) longer. Nail injuries such as stubbing your toe, kicking something hard, or something dropping on your toe can cause the nail to curve and grow into the soft tissue causing pain and inflammation. If you have diabetes or any other condition that is associated with poor circulation, it is highly discouraged that you perform any home treatments on your ingrown toenail.The definitive guide to England's 6,000 GP practices: From number of patients and doctors to how many appointments are face-to-face (as well as what patients REALLY think). The wound should be healed after four to six weeks with the nail sitting above the surrounding soft tissue.

Non-surgical options are generally preferred for patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms, and surgical options preferred in patients with more severe symptoms. A number of things can cause an ingrowing toenail to develop and if left untreated, could pierce the skin. If your nail is deeply embedded on either side don’t try to apply the brace between your skin and the nail.This technique is usually done by trying to dig out the ingrown edge then trimming away the ingrown side.