An ingrown toenail can feel painful, make wearing shoes uncomfortable, and look unsightly. So, how do you deal with one?
Having an ingrown toenail is an issue that affects many people. It involves one or both sides of the nail growing into the skin around it. The big toe is typically the toe affected. If the nail begins to enter the skin, it cannot only be unpleasant but also increase the chance of infection. This can pose a significant threat to your overall health and functionality.
Subsequently, ingrown toenails must be treated correctly as soon as possible. There are some hygiene and self-care steps you can take to improve the state of your ingrown toenail. However, many ingrown toenails benefit from professional support from an experienced podiatrist.
An ingrown toenail is not a condition to ignore. Learn more about how our podiatrist can help you, including understanding how to cut an ingrown toenail.
When Should I Cut an Ingrown Toenail?
Cutting an ingrown toenail should be done unassisted if it is only slightly ingrown. You may want to do this yourself, but it is highly recommended to see a podiatrist. If the skin around your nail is tender, painful, red, swollen or oozing, please come in to see our podiatrist as these are signs that it requires treatment.
If your toenail is slightly ingrown, the cutting process involves the following steps:
- Place your toe into warm water to soften the area. This will take about 20-30 minutes. Adding Epsom salt or a disinfectant, such as Dettol, can further assist this process.
- Dry and massage the area gently to increase blood flow.
- Exfoliate the dead skin by rubbing a disinfected nail file softly over the area.
- Try to gently straighten the toenail with your fingers and then clean the area and your hands.
- As the nail grows, you can cut it if it remains only slightly ingrown. Ensure your nail clippers are disinfected and dry. Make sure you cut the nail straight across. Do not go too low and leave at least 1-2 mm of the white part of the top of your nail.
- Slide a small piece of a cotton ball under the nail with disinfected tweezers to lift the nail from the skin to relieve pressure.
- Keep the area clean and dry, do not wear closed shoes or tight socks, and do not touch or press the area.
When Should I See a Podiatrist?
Cutting your ingrown toenail can assist in the healing process and relieve some of the discomfort. However, it is likely to continue growing in the same direction, which means it may eventually grow back into your skin.
Subsequently, it is often advantageous to seek help from a podiatrist at any stage of an ingrown toenail. Our podiatrist is experienced and trained in dealing with ingrown toenails and can assess yours to identify the best course of action.
If you have diabetes, you must see a podiatrist or your GP if you develop an ingrown toenail. This is because poor circulation in your feet, which is a common issue with diabetes, can increase the risk of problems occurring. These can include issues such as severe infection, prolonged healing time, death of the tissue around your toenail, and ulceration. For diabetic patients, this could lead to serious issues such as sepsis and amputation.
What Will a Podiatrist Do to Treat an Ingrown Toenail?
Our podiatrist can provide care for your ingrown toenail at whatever stage it is at. This may involve a minor procedure, such as trimming the nail properly, or it may involve a more involved procedure, such as numbing the area and removing some of the affected skin and nail.
He may perform a laser or chemical-based treatment to prevent the problematic part of the nail from growing into the skin. Our podiatrist will also provide education and advice about caring for your toenails and how to prevent the issue from occurring.
At-Home Treatments For Ingrown Toenails
We recommend you leave the nail cutting to a trained professional, but in the meantime, you can take some steps at home to try to decrease the chance of infection and improve your comfort.
This may include the following:
- Soak your toe in warm water several times a day. Adding Epsom salt or Dettol as advised may help. Dry the area thoroughly.
- Increase blood flow to the area by gently massaging it with clean hands.
- Try an antibacterial cream on the area and use over-the-counter pain medication or a numbing cream as advised by your doctor, podiatrist, or pharmacist.
- Wear open, loose shoes and socks.
Seek Experienced Care For Ingrown Toenails
Our friendly and highly qualified podiatrist frequently looks after patients with ingrown toenails. He is passionate about delivering holistic and thorough care to every patient. If you are having issues with your toenail/s and the surrounding skin, please make an appointment for a comprehensive assessment before the issue becomes serious.
