Why Do I Keep Getting Ingrown Toenails?
May 09, 2025
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Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) happen when the edge of your toenail grows into the skin surrounding your nail. The further it grows into your skin, the more inflammation, swelling, and pus you may experience.
If you find yourself dealing with ingrown toenails over and over again, you’re not alone, and there’s usually a reason behind it.
Read on as our team of providers at NYC Foot & Ankle Center in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood of the Upper West Side explains why you keep getting ingrown toenails and what you can do about it.
Ingrown toenails are so common that about 20% of people who see their doctor for foot problems do so because of ingrown nails. Although ingrown nails are common, not everyone gets recurrent ingrown nails for the same reason.
To combat ingrown nails, you have to pinpoint the source. Here are six reasons you keep struggling with ingrown nail after ingrown nail.
If you cut your toenails too short or round the edges, your nail can grow into the nearby skin. Instead, cut your nails straight across.
Shoes that squish your toes together can push your nail into your skin. Certain athletic shoes, such as soccer cleats or ballet shoes, can increase your likelihood of developing ingrown nails.
While you can’t do much to change the shape of athletic shoes, you do have control over the shoes you wear daily. Always choose footwear that gives your toes plenty of room.
If your toenail curves noticeably when viewed head-on, it may be a pincer nail—a nail shape that increases the likelihood of the edges growing into your surrounding skin.
Ballerinas, especially those who wear pointe shoes, can increase their risk of developing ingrown toenails due to the pressure and repetitive microtrauma on their toes.
Improper nail trimming, tight shoes, and the nature of pointe work can contribute to recurrent ingrown nails and other injuries, earning the label “ballerina feet.” If you’re a dancer, work with your dance studio for properly fitting pointe shoes.
Dancers aren’t the only ones at risk of ingrown nails. Soccer players also experience ingrown nails thanks to a combination of snug cleats, repetitive kicking, and improper nail trimming.
Stubbing your toe or repeated pressure from activities like running can increase your risk. It can seem like as soon as your nail heals, you start to see the signs of another ingrown nail creeping in.
Sweaty feet are more prone to ingrown toenails because excess moisture softens your skin, so it’s easier for your nail to grow into the tissue. If your feet tend to sweat, try changing your socks as soon as they become damp and alternate your shoes so you're always wearing a dry pair.
Not only does this help prevent ingrown nails, but keeping your feet dry also helps prevent fungal infections.
If you frequently get ingrown toenails, it’s time to consider long-term solutions. At NYC Foot & Ankle Center, our team helps pinpoint the source of your ingrown nails, takes X-rays to assess how deep your nail has grown, and recommends solutions.
We may recommend:
In addition to in-office treatments, our team provides at-home care tips, such as how often to soak your feet, tips for trimming your nails, and more.
Left untreated, ingrown nails can quickly turn from an annoying nuisance into a throbbing, oozing sore. They’re somewhat easy to ignore at first, but as they develop into a stage 3 ingrown nail — marked by granulomas, chronic inflammation, and oozing pus — you could develop other infections like cellulitis.
Don’t wait for pain or infection to worsen. We’ve got solutions. If you regularly deal with ingrown toenails, contact us today.