Can you go swimming with an ingrown toenail is a common question asked of Podiatrists.
The answer is very simple: Yes. One concern people have is will other swimmers catch their ingrown toenail? The answer to that is no, ingrown toenails are genetic; you cannot catch them from other people.
What about the infection, will it spread to other people? Highly doubtful. While in theory it could happen, the chances are remote, as in an ocean, lake or pool, there are so many other organisms the chances of your infection going to another person is minute.
Will the water make the ingrown toenail worse? Again the answer is most likely no. There is a small chance that if you go in a lake or ocean your infection may get worse by exposing the ingrown toenail to different bacterial organisms. But the chances of that happening are small. In fact, the water will most likely make your foot feel better by drawing out the infection and softening the skin. A common treatment for ingrown toenails is to soak your foot, so swimming is similar to that, not as sanitary, but close enough. In conclusion, go swimming with your ingrown toenail and have no worries.