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When to Call for Ingrown Toenail

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Ingrown Toenails:

• Ingrown toenails are always painful.
• Pain is caused by the sharp toenail edge cutting into the skin around it.
• The pain can be stopped. Find the toenail corner and lift it out of the raw tissue.
• This will allow the area to heal.
• Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home. Surgery or nail removal is rarely needed.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Warm Water Soaks:

• Soak the toe in warm water and soap for 20 minutes twice a day.
• While soaking, massage the swollen part of the cuticle (skin next to the nail). Massage away from the nail.
• While soaking, also try to bend the corners of the toenail upward. Use your fingernail to lift it.
• Dry the toe and foot completely.

Raise Corner of Toenail with Dental Floss:

• Goal: to help the toenail corner grow over the cuticle, rather than into it.
• The area won't heal until you expose the corner of the nail.
• Often you can lift it with your fingernail.
• If not, take a short strip of dental floss or fishing line. Try to slip it under the corner of the nail. Then, gently lift the nail upward. Cut off any sharp edge.
• Take a small wedge of cotton from a cotton ball. Try to place the wedge under the nail corner to keep it raised. Sometimes this step is not possible.
• Raise the corner away from the cuticle with every soak.

Antibiotic Ointment:

• After each soak, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). Put it on the swollen part of the toe.
• You can buy this ointment without a prescription.

Take Pressure Off Toenail with a Foam Pad or Cotton Ball:

• Until it heals, try to wear sandals or go barefoot.
• When you must wear closed-toe shoes, protect the ingrown toenail as follows:
• Inner Edge of Toe. If the inner edge of the big toe is involved, try this: Tape a cotton ball or foam pad between the lower part of the first and second toes. This will keep the upper toes from touching.
• Outer Edge of Toe. If the outer edge is involved, use a cotton ball. Tape it to the outside of the affected toe, but lower than the painful area.
• This will keep the toenail from touching the side of the shoe.
• Weather-stripping from a hardware store makes the best foam pad. Reason: has adhesive on one side.
• Never wear tight, narrow, or pointed shoes.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
• Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
• If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

Prevention - Nail Trimming:

• Cut you toenails straight across, so you can see the corners. Use a nail clipper.
• Do not round off the corners. Keep the corners visible.
• Do not cut them too short.
• After baths or showers, the nails are soft. Bend the corners of the toenails upward.

Prevention - Wear Shoes That Fit:

• Make sure that your shoes are not too narrow. Give away any pointed or tight shoes.
• Tight narrow shoes are the most common cause of ingrown toenails.
• Shoes should have a wide toe box. The toes should not feel cramped.

What to Expect:

• With treatment, the pus should be gone in 48 hours.
• Pain should be gone in 1 week.
• The area should be healed up in 2 weeks.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Spreading redness or fever occur
• Pus pocket occurs
• Not improved after 7 days
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.