How to Cut an Ingrown Toenail
Step by Step guide to remove an ingrown toenail
Infected ingrown toenail, Beaver Pa
Soften the nail by soaking in warm, not hot water
Clean your nail clippers or scissors with a disinfectant.
Normal nails are cut straight across, but for infected ingrown nail treatment you must trim down the side of the nail where it pierces the skin. This may be very painful.
Do not place a piece of cotton between the ingrown nail and skin. you would have to leave it there for months to change the growth pattern and it adds pressure to the already inflamed area.
Topical antibiotic ointment cream and a band-aid should then be applied until all the redness is gone, which may take a few weeks.
You may remove the band-aid at night while sleeping to air it out. Soaking at night also helps, either in epsom salt water or apple cider vinegar.
Wear shoes that don’t press on the sore area.
when you make a worse mess of it, call a podiatrist
Common Causes of an Ingrown Toenail
The most common causes of an ingrown toenail include:
Genetic predisposition
Tight shoes
Improper cutting off toenails
Bumping or dropping something on the toe
Picking at the toenails
Sports like soccer or running
Seeking Medical Care
It is wise to seek medical attention whenever an ingrown toenail develops into an infection. You should see a doctor even when the ingrown toenail is only inflamed without infection if you answer yes to any of the following questions.
- Has it been more than five years since your last tetanus booster shot?
- Have you tried three days of in home care without any improvement? There is more information on in home care options below.
- Do you have poor circulation, AIDS, diabetes, are you on chemotherapy or do you have another reason for poor wound healing or increased risk of infection?