Liam Carter
Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem that occurs when the corner of your toenail grows into the surrounding tissue, resulting in inflammation and pain. While ingrown toenails can usually be treated at home, severe cases may require medical attention. In this article, we will explore the different methods for removing an ingrown toenail, from home remedies to medical procedures, providing you with the knowledge to tackle this painful condition effectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Toenail growing into the skin |
| Symptoms | Skin bordering the nail bed is red, irritated, swollen, painful, and tender to the touch |
| Treatment | Soak the toe in warm soapy water, place cotton or dental floss under the toenail, apply petroleum jelly, bandage the toe |
| Prevention | Cut toenails straight across, avoid tapering the edges, avoid cutting the nails too short, wear properly fitting shoes |
| Surgery | Nail avulsion, wedge excision, nail-bed ablation, Zadek's procedure |
| Healing Time | 2 to 4 months for the toenail to grow back |
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What You'll Learn
Soak the toe in warm, soapy water
Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem that can afflict people of all ages. They occur when the toenail grows into the skin beside the nail, causing inflammation and pain. While ingrown toenails usually don't pose a serious health risk, they can lead to bacterial or fungal infections if left untreated.
Soaking the toe in warm, soapy water is often recommended as a home remedy for ingrown toenails. This can help to relieve pain and inflammation, and prevent the nail from growing further into the skin. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this effectively:
First, fill a basin or tub with warm water and add a mild soap. Ensure that the water is comfortably warm, not too hot, to avoid causing discomfort or further irritation to the affected area. Then, soak your affected foot in the warm, soapy water for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat this process 3 to 4 times a day until the condition of your toe improves. The frequency and duration of soaking are crucial to promote healing and prevent further irritation.
After each soaking session, it is important to dry your foot thoroughly, paying extra attention to the affected toe. Gently pat the area with a soft towel or cloth, ensuring that the ingrown toenail and surrounding skin are completely dry. Proper drying helps prevent moisture buildup, which can create a favourable environment for bacterial growth.
Additionally, you can place fresh bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the ingrown edge of the nail after soaking and drying. This technique helps to separate the nail from the overlying skin, guiding the nail to grow above the skin edge. It is crucial to use clean and sterile cotton or dental floss to minimize the risk of introducing bacteria to the affected area.
By following these steps, you can effectively utilize the warm, soapy water soaking method to manage and treat your ingrown toenail at home. Remember to maintain proper foot hygiene, cut your toenails straight across, and seek professional advice if the condition persists or worsens.
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Use cotton or dental floss
Ingrown toenails are a common problem, affecting about 20% of people who visit doctors about a foot issue. They can be painful and take time to heal. If you have an ingrown toenail, you may notice that the skin bordering your nail is red, irritated, swollen, and tender to touch.
If you have an ingrown toenail, you can use cotton or dental floss to lift the edge of the nail and separate it from the overlying skin. This will help the nail grow above the skin edge. Here's how to do it:
First, soak your foot in warm water mixed with Epsom salt or soapy, sudsy water for 10 to 20 minutes. Do this three to four times a day until the toe improves. Soaking your feet will keep the area clean and help prevent bacterial growth and infection. You can also add a few drops of antibacterial soap to the water if you'd like.
Once your skin is soft and some of the swelling has gone down, dry your foot and gently lift the edge of your nail with clean, unused dental floss. You can also use your fingers to roll the floss and gently push back the skin to lift the edge of the nail. The goal is to create space between your nail and the underlying skin.
Once there's a clear separation between your toenail and skin, wedge a small piece of clean cotton beneath your nail. You can also use a corrector/straightener strip instead of cotton. Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on the tender area and bandage the toe.
Change the cotton or floss every day until the nail no longer digs into the skin. You can also apply alcohol to the affected area to clean it and prevent infection.
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Apply petroleum jelly
Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem that usually affects the big toe. They occur when the corner of your toenail grows into the surrounding tissue or skin next to the nail, instead of growing across the top of your toe. This often happens when people cut their toenails too short or round the corners. Other causes include wearing ill-fitting shoes, toe trauma, and having curved or thickened toenails.
To treat an ingrown toenail at home, you can apply petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, to the tender area. First, soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day until the toe improves. Then, place fresh bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the ingrown edge to separate the nail from the skin and help the nail grow above the skin edge. Finally, apply petroleum jelly to the tender area and bandage the toe.
If home remedies are ineffective, a healthcare provider may recommend lifting the nail and placing cotton, dental floss, or a splint underneath to separate the nail from the skin. They may also suggest taping the nail to pull the skin away from the ingrown nail or partially removing the nail for more severe cases.
In very severe cases, a healthcare provider may recommend a procedure called nail avulsion, which involves surgically removing part or all of the nail to prevent it from growing inward again. This procedure may be followed by a pain reliever, a wet compress, and elevation of the toe for 12 to 24 hours.
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Seek professional help
Ingrown toenails are a common problem that can often be treated at home. However, if you experience symptoms such as pain, redness, inflammation, or swelling, it may be time to seek professional help. Diabetics and those with circulation issues should be particularly vigilant and seek medical advice immediately.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, your first port of call should be your regular healthcare provider or a foot specialist known as a podiatrist. They will likely diagnose an ingrown toenail by inspecting the skin at the edge of your nail. If the skin is growing over your nail, swollen, tender, warm, red or darker in colour, painful to the touch, or looks different from your other toes, you will be diagnosed with an ingrown toenail.
Depending on the severity of your ingrown toenail, your healthcare provider may recommend a toenail splint, which is a small device that allows your nail to grow above your sensitive skin. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend a surgical solution. This could involve partially or completely removing your toenail to allow it to grow back correctly. For those who repeatedly experience ingrown toenails, removing the entire nail may be the best option.
If your ingrown toenail is infected, your healthcare provider might take a sample of the discharge or nail itself to run a bacteria or fungal culture test. They may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics to clear up the infection. After treating your ingrown toenail, your doctor will recommend ways to help you avoid getting another one.
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Surgery
Before surgery, your doctor will clean and numb your toe with an anesthetic injection. They may apply an elastic band to the area near where your toe joins your foot and place a wedge under the ingrown section of the nail.
There are several surgical procedures that can be used to treat an ingrown toenail:
- Wedge resection or wedge excision: The doctor removes a portion of the toenail to prevent it from growing into the skin. This procedure is also called a partial nail avulsion.
- Toenail removal or nail avulsion: The doctor removes the entire toenail. This procedure is also called a complete nail plate avulsion. Removing the whole nail increases the risk of the nail growing back misshapen or deformed, which can lead to future ingrown toenails.
- Surgery on the tip of the toe: If other surgeries are unsuitable or have failed, the doctor may remove and reshape the soft tissue at the tip of the toe.
- Zadek's procedure: The whole toenail is removed, and then the area of tissue that the toenail grows from is cut away.
- Nail-bed ablation: Either a partial or complete nail removal, followed by the application of a chemical (usually phenol) to the area of tissue that the toenail grows from.
- Electrocautery: The use of heat from an electric current to remove harmful tissue.
After surgery, the doctor will typically apply a bandage covered with petroleum jelly to your toe. It is advisable to keep a bandage around the wound until it heals, which can take a few weeks. Antibiotic ointment should be applied twice daily until the wound is completely healed to prevent infection. You may experience some pain after the procedure, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
During the first few days after surgery, it is important to keep your leg raised to reduce swelling. You should also refrain from sports or strenuous exercise for at least two weeks. While serious complications are rare, possible complications of ingrown toenail surgery include toenail deformity, subsequent ingrown toenails, and infection.
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Frequently asked questions
Soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day until the toe improves. Place cotton or dental floss under your toenail after each soaking. Apply petroleum jelly to the tender area and bandage the toe.
If the nail is very painful, getting worse, or showing signs of infection, see a healthcare professional for advice on how best to treat the issue. Signs of infection include the skin bordering the nail bed being red, irritated, swollen, and painful and tender to the touch.
A healthcare professional will use sterilized equipment to reduce the risk of infection. They may inject the area with a numbing solution so that you will not feel any pain. They may then trim or remove part or all of the nail.
