In-grown toenail

[Delaney21]

My sister and I went to get a pedicure back in the beginning of July. I had never had a pedicure before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The girl doing it cut the sides of my toenail, which I thought looked a lot better than just straight across. The girl walked away for a minute and my sister told me that she thought they weren't supposed to cut them like that because you can get an in-grown toenail that way.

So now I'm paranoid that I'm going to get one. I've been trying to check for the daily, but I'm not really sure what to look for. The skin on the side of one of my big toes is red and hurts, so I think something may be happening. Is there a way to prevent them? Is there something I should be looking for, or something I should be doing to them?

[Fluffy Bunny]

The best thing to do to prevent ingrown toenails is to soak your feet every night. Epsom salts are recommended but you could just take a bath every night. Also, make sure your shoes are not too tight in the toe box. If an ingrown toenail gets too bad, it will get infected, so keep an eye out for that. Good luck.

[JennH]

What a ding dong your pedicurist is. Sounds like you are headed that way. Be careful, it can get really bad. One thing I did was cut away the nail. If it's really bad, it will hurt so bad you won't be able to and you'll have to go to a podiatrist to get it out.

I also use tea tree oil. My in grown toe nail got so bad it was infected and that is what the podiatrist suggested.

[HisSpicy]

My mom always taught me to clip a little "V" in the middle of your big toe, it encourages your nail to grow back that away. Always worked for me when I had one. Now when I clip and file them at home, I file so it almost curves a little in the middle, lower there, higher on the sides. Not enough so you can really notice it though. I rarely get ingrown toenails anymore, so it might help.

[shopaholic]

I tend to always get ingrown toenails but I get clip happy with the nail clippers. I do not like cutting my nail straight across and I tend to curve around the edges. When I first do my toes they are fine, but about 2 weeks later the nail is starting to grow in the skin, so I will have to cut that part of the nail so its not growing into the skin....endless cycle for me.

[greenbunny]

I always cut my toenails very short and I do not cut them straight across. I can't. My toes are very short and close together. If the nails get even a little past the pink part, they scratch up the sides of my other toes and the skin breaks and bleeds. I have been cutting my nails down to the quick for years and I've never had an ingrown.

[keska]

If your toe is already sore, the best thing to do is lift the nail slightly on the side and put some cotton under it. It hurts to do because of the irritation but it will keep the edge of the nail from growing into the skin. Just keep cotton under it until it has grown out enough to cut your toenail the correct way.

[Tonysweetie]

*bump*

I have a really bad ingrown toe nail. It feels like a little needle under my skin. I've tried lifting my toe nail to put cotton under it many times but it's extremely painful! Someone tell me how much pain is involved in when they do the surgery. I'm going next week and very nervous!

My brother laughed at me today b/c I've had a C-section and was fine with that but can't bare the thought of having a toenail cut out, lol. :rolleyes::o

[pewee9196]

Tony Sweetie
If it is ingrown and infected they can't cut it out because of infection. Start soaking your feet every night. I have had 2 horrible ingrown infected nails and I did not have them cut out. I did have to be put on antibiotics and pain killers for one. I could not even walk it was so bad. I feel your pain. Good Luck

[Foley42]

Leslie: sorry about your in grown toe nail. I had tons in middle school that got infected and I had them cut out at the doc's office. They put 2 shots to numb my toe (always my big toe) and went from there. All I felt was pressure, no pain. I was sore for a few days after it was cut out. I would only wear sandals (good thing it's summer time). Oh I also wrapped it with gauze and tape because it bleed a little.

[espresso]

Warning: This post could contain TMI for some people!!


I have had in-grown toenails my entire life; it runs in the family apparently...my brother had his permanently removed (they remove a tiny portion of the side of your toenail...the part that grows under the skin for some people and gets infected. I have to trim the sides of my toenails about once a month in order to keep them from being infected.

When I was in high school, (here is TMI) I had to have my whole toenail removed once becaue they got so bad. It grew back fine and I have been taking care of it ever since.

They are THE most painful thing in the entire world! If you have never had one there is no way you can understand the pain it can cause. I've never had a kid, but tonysweetie, go to the doctor and let them take of it! They will numb you up and it won't hurt anymore :)

Good luck!

[ee_chick]

I have ongoing issues with ingrown toe-nails and have had them removed several times. Honestly, it's never been more than slightly uncomfortable. I go to a podiatrist. He sprays a freezing cold topical anesthetic on the toe and then gives a few shots to numb it completely. You shouldn't feel the removal - I never have. It's tender for a few days after, but it's not a huge deal. (Unless it's an irresistible force for your 70 pound dog to step on, as mine always is. :p)

[Tonysweetie]

Thanks everyone I feel better about the procedure now. I started soaking my foot tonight so hopefully that'll help. DH and I went to a wedding earlier tonight and I was in heels all night and now it's more sore than ever! UGH! I'm actually looking forward to getting this cut out now. :o