What can I do for an ingrown toenail?

Answer 1

The best solution is to not cut it out at all. Surgery is a last resort for removing and cutting back the nail bed. The first and often best method is to lift the nail out of the skin by using small amounts of cotton soaked in alcohol.with a toothpick or small probe press the cotton under the nail at the corner until it lifts the nail above the skin. Change the cotton daily until the nail grows far enough out that it is beyond the corner of skin where it was ingrown. Next trim the nail evenly straight across so that you leave the corners a little longer than in the middle this should resolve the problem for you. Go to the doctor only if the nail is infected, or if it has ingrown so many times that the nail breaks instead of lifting out.

Answer 2

It depends on how bad it is. You can soak your foot in very warm water for about 15 mins. Let the skin get soft. Take a small piece of cotton and put it under the nail and leave it there to help lift the overgrown piece from digging into your skin. Change the cotton twice a day. You can try to cut it a little bit and may need to use a nail file and tweezers too.

However if you are continuously doing this after a week or so, I would encourage you to go to a doctor and have part of the toenail removed. They may not have to cut the WHOLE toenail off, just the part that is growing incorrectly.

Answer 3

You can use neosporin on it while it's red and inflammed, cover with a bandaid. After a bath, cut the toenail so that it is shaped in a "V" making the sides longer than the middle; that way it will grow toward the "V" cut. If this doesn't help, go to the doctor. You probably have a staff infection and need antibiotics. And, yes, you may need your toenail removed. But that is no guarantee that it won't happen again.

Answer 4

It will be best to go to a medical doctor. Fixing it yourself may cause infection and unnecessary inconvenience. But if you must do it yourself, first soak in warm water. Then when the skin is sufficiently lose and soft, try prying the ingrown toenail with a pusher. This will be extremely painful. Then trim the nail that is pressing on your skin enough to release the pressure. Then put antiseptic and cover it with bandage. As I said, it would be best to consult a doctor.

Answer 5

OK I have no doubt the above answerer is NOT a doctor. First of all you need to see a doctor to have it evaluated. It may be infected and that needs treated first. Unless you have repeated ingrown toenails removing the entire nail isn't usually a first choice of treatment. Once you have recovered you need to be positive not to cut the nail too short again to prevent a future problem. Ultimately you need the toe evaluated by a doctor.

Answer 6

The best thing you can do for an ingrown toenail is to see a Podiatrist. Don't attempt to resolve this yourself.

Answer 7

You could try to cut it out your self if you are cheap / broke / or have no medical insurance, but then you run the risk of infection which is going to cost more pain and cash in the long run, I would say the most sensible answer is go see a podiatrist.

Answer 8

You have to go see a foot doctor. Sometimes you have to go back more than once. My friend had his taken care of, then it grew back. The doctor told him he would have to have his nail removed so that it won't grow back because if they continue to cut it would just grow back ingrown everytime.

Answer 9

Soak affected foot in Empson Salt, warm water bath several times a day. It will drawl out infection and soften the nail and skin surrounding it. If it is really bad, you need to go see a dr. he/she will be able to cut it out or give you antibiotics if needed. What ever you do, take care of it.

Answer 10

IF YOUR NAIL IS OVER THE TIP, CUT A V IN THE CENTER NOT GOING TO DEEP AND COVER IT, AS IT GROWS OUT THE NAIL WILL GROW OUT OF THE SIDE ALWAYS CUT NAILS STRAIGHT ACROSS NOT A ANGLE THATS WHAT CAUSES INGROWN NAILS