Ingrowing toenails can be due to many factors including: ill-fitting footwear, the natural shape of the nail or improper nail cutting. It is important that you are assessed to see if the cause of the painful toe is due to an ingrowing toenail. Conservative treatment such as cutting the nail back and nail bracing can alleviate the pain. Nail surgery may be required if severe or conservative management has failed. This procedure is performed under a local anaesthetic and involves a small section of the nail being removed and the nail bed being destroyed to stop the section of nail regrowing.