An ingrown toenail is a common problem where the nail grows into the toe. It can be painful, but there are things you can do to ease the pain.
Check if you have an ingrown toenail
You usually get an ingrown toenail on your big toe. But you can get them on any toe.
Your toe can also get infected.
Signs of an infected toe include:
Signs of an infected toe include:
- pus coming out of it
- you feel hot or shivery
How to treat an ingrown toenail at home
If you go to a GP with an ingrown toenail, they’ll usually suggest you try these things first.
- soak your foot in warm, salty water to help soften the skin around your toe and reduce the chances of infection
- keep your foot dry for the rest of the day
- wear wide, comfortable shoes or sandals
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
- do not cut your toenail – leave it to grow out
- do not pick at your toe or toenail
- do not wear tight, pointy shoes
A pharmacist can help with an ingrown toenail
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- treatments to help ease the pain and prevent an infection
- whether you need to see a GP
How to prevent ingrown toenails
Before undergoing dimple creation surgery, a consultation with the surgeon is required. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss your goals, concerns, and expectations about the procedure, as well as ask any questions you may have. Dimple creation surgery is considered a minor procedure aimed at enhancing facial features and smile.
Your surgeon will:
- do not cut your toenails too short
- cut straight across the nail, not the edges
- do not wear shoes that are too tight or do not fit properly
- keep your feet clean and dry them thoroughly
What are the symptoms of an ingrown toenail?
If you have an ingrown toenail, it might feel:
- painful or tender
- red
- swollen
- surrounded by hardened skin
An ingrown toenail can get infected. Signs of infection are:
- pus or discharge of liquid from the wound around the toe
- fever or throbbing pain in the toe
- bleeding around the toenail
- redness and warm skin around the toenail
What causes ingrown toenails?
You can get an ingrown toenail if you:
- have tight fitting shoes or socks
- wear tights that crowd your toes, putting pressure on your toenails
- cut your toenails too short or not straight across
- injure your toe, for example by stubbing it
- pick or tear the corners of your toenails
- have sweaty feet, making your skin soft and easier for toenails to dig in
How are ingrown toenails treated?
Try this home treatment if your toenail is cutting into your skin:
- Soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day.
- Then use a cotton bud to gently push away the skin from the corner of the nail.
- Repeat each day for a few weeks and let the toenail grow.
- After a while, the end of the nail will grow forward. When this happens, push a tiny piece of cotton wool or dental floss under the toenail at the edges. This will help the nail grow over the skin. It will stop the toenail from cutting into the skin. Change the cotton wool or dental floss each time you soak your foot.
- Do not pick at the toenail or try to remove it yourself.
- Potential requirement for a revision procedure
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