About this topic
An ingrown toenail happens when your toenail grows and digs into the skin or your skin grows over your nail. This most often happens at the side of the big toe, but can happen to any toe. The skin can become red, swollen, and painful. Germs may enter and cause infection. This may be caused by: ‚
- Not trimming your toenails the right way
- Wearing shoes that are too big or too small
- Stubbing your toe, running, kicking, or other action that causes pressure on your toe
- The shape and size of your toenails
- Nail illnesses like fungal infection
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Check your feet each day to look for ingrown toenails.
- Prop your affected foot on pillows. Avoid putting pressure on the affected toe.
- Talk to your doctor about how to change your dressing and how to care for your toe.
- Take good care of your feet and nails.
- Soak your feet in warm water to soften your nails.
- Dry your feet completely and keep your feet dry.
- Trim your nails straight across using a clean and sharp nail trimmer. Do not taper or round the corners or trim too short. Do not cut your nails shorter than the edge of your toe.
- Wear shoes that fit the right way. Do not wear shoes that are too big, too short, or too tight.
- Treat your ingrown toenails right away to avoid infection. Your doctor may show you how to lift the edge of your ingrown toenail from in your skin and put cotton or waxed dental floss under the edge of your nail. This may keep the nail from growing into your skin and may prevent infection. Your doctor will tell you to change the cotton or waxed dental floss every day.
- If you have other health problems such as diabetes, talk to your doctor about proper care and treatment of your feet.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent or treat infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to stay at home for a few days to let the wound heal. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. Ask your doctor when you can go back to your normal activities like driving, work, school, or exercise. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Too much swelling or bleeding
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Trim your nails regularly and the right way.
- Practice proper foot hygiene. Wash your feet with soap and water.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Wear comfortable shoes that are not too big, too short, or too tight
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- You have any new problems or concerns
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my feet and toenails.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my nail.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00154&return_link=0 ‚
American Family Physician ‚
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0615/p2557.html ‚
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Ingrown-toenail/Pages/Treatment.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚