Ingrown Toenails?

Question

is there a way i can prevent them. I went and got a pedicure for the last couple of times, and it worked?

Answer 1

Keeping your toenails trimed, clean and neat helps (as would a pedicure) Also try filing down the center of the toe in question, this helps the toenail grow to the center, or weak spot, and not into the side of your toe.

Answer 2

To help prevent an ingrown toenail:

Trim your toenails straight across. Don't curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toe. If you have your toenails done at a nail salon, be sure to tell your pedicurist to trim your nails straight across. If you have circulation problems in your feet from disorders such as diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, see a podiatrist regularly to have your nails professionally trimmed.
Keep toenails at a moderate length. Trim toenails so that they're even with the tips of your toes. If you trim your toenails too short, the pressure from your shoes on your toes' tissue may direct your nails to grow into the tissue.
Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that place excessive pressure on your toes or pinch your toes may cause your nails to grow into surrounding tissue. If you have nerve impairment to your feet, you may not be able to sense if your shoes fit too tightly. Take care to buy and wear properly fitted shoes, preferably from a shoe store specializing in fitting shoes for people with foot problems.
Wear protective footwear. If your work puts you at risk of injuring your toes, buy footwear such as steel-toed shoes, which protect your toes.


You can treat most ingrown toenails at home. Here's how:

Soak your feet. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day, using warm salt water (1 teaspoon of table salt per pint of water) or warm, soapy water. Soaking reduces swelling and relieves tenderness.
Give your nail some help. Put fresh bits of cotton under the ingrown edge after each soaking. This will help the nail eventually grow above the skin edge.
Use a topical antibiotic. Apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage the tender area.
Choose sensible footwear. Consider wearing open-toed shoes or sandals until your toe feels better.
Take pain relievers. If there's severe pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve the pain until you can make an appointment with a podiatrist or dermatologist.
Check your feet. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for signs of ingrown toenails or other foot problems.

Answer 3

To prevent an ingrown toenail:

Wear shoes that fit properly.
Trim toenails straight across the top and not too short.
Keep the feet clean and dry.
People with diabetes should have routine foot exams and nail care.
for more info check: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001237.htm