Painful toenail growth inside the flesh is usually caused by inflammatory pain due to bacterial infection after damage to the flesh or skin inside the toenail. This can be treated either conservatively or surgically. Conservative treatment usually involves strict local disinfection and, if possible, wet application of iodophor for 6-8 hours a day, so that the iodophor can penetrate completely into the nail groove and get a deep antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. However, if the pain is not relieved by the above conservative treatment, the toenail must be removed after anesthesia is given to the toe and inserted in the flesh.