2007 study<\/a>, poorly fitted shoes are a major cause of ingrown toenails. When toes are compressed and forced into a too-narrow space, it puts extra pressure on the sides of the nails. This encourages inward growing.<\/p>\nWear shoes with a wide enough toe box to allow toes to move freely without rubbing on the sides.<\/p>\n
Consider taping toes<\/h3>\n
Using medical tape to gently wrap ingrown nail areas can help flatten and guide the nail to grow out properly. Apply a small piece across the side the nail grows into the skin. The tape relieves pressure and reduces irritation as the nail grows under and out from it.<\/p>\n
Replace the tape every few days as needed.<\/p>\n
When to See a Podiatrist for Ingrown Nails<\/h2>\nInfection Present<\/h3>\n
If an infection develops around the ingrown nail, it’s crucial to seek professional medical care. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, oozing pus, foul odor, increased warmth in the toe, and fever or chills.<\/p>\n
Left untreated, the infection can spread to the bone and bloodstream, becoming very serious. A podiatrist can treat the infection with oral antibiotics or other methods. Getting prompt treatment prevents complications like loss of the toe.<\/p>\n
Persistent Discomfort or Swelling<\/h3>\n
An ingrown nail causes mild discomfort initially, but the pain typically worsens over time as the surrounding skin becomes more inflamed and swollen. If conservative home treatments don’t relieve the discomfort or reduce swelling within several days, make a podiatry appointment.<\/p>\n
The podiatrist has specialized tools to remove the problematic nail edge and medications to control inflammation. This provides faster relief than continuing to self-treat at home.<\/p>\n
Diabetes or Poor Circulation<\/h3>\n
People with diabetes or poor circulation in the feet have a higher risk of developing infections<\/b> from ingrown nails and other minor foot problems. Because their injuries heal slowly, it’s wise to have a podiatrist evaluate any ingrown nail rather than attempting self-treatment.<\/p>\n
Getting early professional care reduces complication risks in vulnerable people. The podiatrist takes extra precautions for high-risk patients.<\/p>\n
Recurring Ingrown Nails<\/h3>\n
Some unlucky people develop ingrown big toenails repeatedly, despite proper at-home care. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, recurring ingrown nails affect an estimated 23% of adults<\/b>.<\/p>\n
For those battling chronic cases, podiatrists can perform minimally invasive surgeries as a permanent solution. Partial or full nail removal reduces instances of additional ingrowth occurring.<\/p>\n
Thickened or Deformed Nails<\/h3>\n
In some cases, thickened, deformed, or oddly shaped nails cause repeated ingrown toenails even with properly trimmed nails. The abnormal nail structure encourages inward curling. Rather than regular palliative care at home, it’s more effective to see a podiatrist.<\/p>\n
They can apply special medications or insert small wedges to retrain the nail’s growth. For severely misshapen nails, partial surgical removal creates a better growing environment.<\/p>\n
How to Cut an Ingrown Toenail at Home<\/h2>\nGather your supplies<\/h3>\n
Before attempting to cut an ingrown toenail, make sure you have all the necessary supplies on hand. You’ll need a pair of sharp, sterilized nail clippers, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol, cotton balls or swabs, a small pair of scissors, an emery board, petroleum jelly, bandages, and antibiotic ointment.<\/p>\n
Having these supplies ready will make the process easier and more efficient.<\/p>\n
Soak your foot<\/h3>\n
Start by soaking your foot in warm water for 10-15 minutes. This will help soften the nail and the surrounding skin, making it easier to lift and cut the ingrown section. You can add Epsom salts or antibacterial soap to the water too.<\/p>\n
After soaking, use a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean the area around the nail. This helps prevent infection.<\/p>\n
Cut out the ingrown section<\/h3>\n
Dry your foot thoroughly after soaking. Use the sterilized nail clippers to carefully cut out the ingrown portion of the nail. Cut straight across to remove the spike or edge that is growing into the skin. Don’t cut too deeply into the corners of the nail bed.<\/p>\n
If needed, use the small scissors to snip any remnants of ingrown nail. Gently lift the cuticle to make sure the nail is elevated from the skin.<\/p>\n
Clean and bandage the area<\/h3>\n
Use a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean the cut area. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the cuticle and surrounding skin. Then place a small bandage over the nail to protect it. The bandage should allow air flow so the area can heal.<\/p>\n
Watch for signs of infection<\/h3>\n
Keep an eye on the area for 1-2 weeks after cutting the nail. Signs of infection include increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, red streaks, drainage or foul odor. If you notice any of these, contact your doctor right away. Taking preventive measures can help avoid complications.<\/p>\n
Let the nail grow out<\/h3>\n
As the nail grows out, file it with an emery board to keep the edges smooth and prevent another ingrown section. Apply petroleum jelly daily to keep the nail and skin soft. Allow proper time for healing before trimming or cutting the nail again. Letting it grow out reduces risk of recurrence.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
While ingrown nails can be annoying and painful, in most cases you can take care of the problem at home. With some simple preventive care, you may be able to avoid ingrown nails altogether. Just be sure to see your doctor if signs of infection develop.<\/p>\n
We hope this guide gave you the steps and confidence to deal with ingrown toenails. Just remember to always use sterile tools, proper technique, and keep the area clean until fully healed. Happy toe health!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you’ve ever experienced the pain of an ingrown toenail, you know how uncomfortable it can be. An ingrown nail is when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing redness, swelling, and often infection. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Soak your foot in warm…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"Nail Guide"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-to-cut-an-ingrown-nail-1024x614.webp",1024,614,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Amanda Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/author\/chris\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Nail Guide","slug":"nail-guide","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1279,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":1279,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nail Guide","category_nicename":"nail-guide","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-to-cut-an-ingrown-nail.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}