Ingrown toe nails are caused by eating too much sugar. Usually it's young kids that get ingrown toenails. I've seen this many times. A young person is board, say on a summer vacation. They sit at home eating sweet stuff and stressed out. After some days of living this way the cuticle around the big toe becomes inflamed (soft and red). The cuticle should be a strong tuff skin that borders the toenail. Sugar makes cuticle weak and prone to become inflamed. Many people have had red swollen cuticles that return to normal in a few days when the owner of the toe stops eating so much sugar and finds something to do with their time to get out of the bad mood or stressful situations. If the toenail becomes ingrown because of clipping the nail down too short at the cuticle then let it grow out. While it's growing out keep it medicated with neosporin every night and put a good elastic material type band-aid on it to keep it clean from infection. Once it becomes ingrown it can take two or three months to grown out above the end of cuticle. Young people will servive this. Elderly should see a doctor for possible root removal.