Ingrown Toenail: Home Doctor & Self Therapy

If your toe is painful, red, and swollen around the nail, the most likely cause is an ingrown nail. Big toes are most often affected. The nail begins to grow down into the skin on either side and the area becomes inflamed. Sometimes, the skin around the nail becomes infected, in which case there may be a discharge of pus. Cutting toenails incorrectly and wearing shoes that cramp the feet are the prime causes of this problem.

See your doctor first

Make an appointment to see your doctor if:

● Your toenail is inflamed and infected

● You have diabetes or poor circulation

What you can do yourself

In the early stages, when your toe is only slightly inflamed, you can treat it with the following measures. They may be enough to stop the problem from getting worse.

● Soak your foot twice a day for about 10 minutes in a bowl of warm water into which you have added 2–3 tablespoonfuls of salt. Put on a dry dressing to protect the toe. Wear open-toed sandals.

● Don’t cut the nail until it has fully recovered.

● Don’t use nail polish or nail-polish remover on the nail while it is inflamed.

PREVENTION

Preventing ingrown nails The simplest way to prevent ingrown toenails is to take good care of your feet.

● Wash your feet every day and dry them carefully.

● Don’t wear shoes that squeeze or press on your toes. Avoid pointed styles and high heels.

● Change your socks, tights, or pantyhose daily and wear cotton socks rather than synthetics. Open-toed pantyhose and tights are available in some stores.

● Make sure you cut your toenails correctly (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, below).

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE

How to cut toenails Adopt this nail-cutting routine to help prevent ingrown toenails.

If you are elderly, or if you have diabetes or poor vision, seek specialist advice about nail care.

1 Soften your toenails before you trim them by soaking them for 10 minutes in a bowl of warm water or in the bath. This will make them easier to cut, especially if they are tough or thick.

2 Use sharp nail scissors or clippers to cut your toenails straight across. Shape them so that they are rounded slightly at the tip, but don’t cut into the corners since this encourages them to grow inward. Smooth the nail edges with a fine-textured file.

3 If a toenail is already growing into the skin, don’t dig the scissors or clippers into the corner of the nail or try to push anything under the affected nail.