Are You Sick?

When to Call for Ingrown Toenail

Care Advice

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Taking 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call 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.