How to trim an ingrown toenail
An ingrown toenail is a fairly common occurrence. Most often this affects the toes. Today I propose to talk about how to cure an ingrown nail, and how to cut it correctly.
Ingrown toenails are most common in people between the ages of 20 and 40. The medical names for this nail condition are onychocryptosis and unguis incarnatus.
Why do nails grow in?
Ingrown toenails happen when the side or top of the nail plate begins to dig into the soft tissue around the nail. Moreover, both one and both sides of the nail on the finger nails can be ingrown.
This can happen if the nail is often injured, bent or grows from external pressure. An example would be when you wear the same shoes every day and those shoes compress your toes or put pressure on your toe and nails. Instead of growing straight, the edge of the toenail curls into skin and flesh. Sounds a little creepy...
There are other factors that can increase the risk of an ingrown toenail. These include:
- fungal or bacterial infection
- constantly sweaty or damp feet
- damaged or torn nails
- dry, brittle or cracked nails
- deformed nails
- improperly trimmed nails
- frequent wearing of high heels
- wearing tight, narrow or ill-fitting shoes
- chronic diseases
- lack of nutrients for healthy nail growth in your diet
- family history or taking certain medications also increases the risk of ingrown nails
- it may also just be anatomically placed. The shape and size of your finger can make you more prone to ingrown nails.
How to trim an ingrown toenail
To begin with, you should take a closer look at the situation in order to understand how much the nail has grown and whether you can cut it yourself.
If the situation is not too serious, then here is what you should do:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching your feet.
- Disinfect all nail clippers, tweezers, cuticle sticks and other pedicure tools with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and let dry.
- Soak your foot in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes to soften the skin and nail. You can add sea salt, tea tree oil or other disinfectant essential oils to your bath.
- Dry your feet thoroughly with a soft towel.
- Gently massage the skin around the ingrown toenail.
- Scrub the skin on the sides of the nail with a cuticle file or stick to remove dead skin cells.
- You may be able to lift your toenail using your fingernails or a cuticle stick.
- Gently lift the edge of your toenail and place a small piece of cotton swab or disc under it to make it grow in the other direction.
- During treatment, try to wear open-toed or wide-toed shoes.
- Monitor nail growth and replace the cotton swab as needed.
For a more ingrown nail, if the area around the nail is not infected:
- Trim your toenails evenly, using tweezers, but not too short, leaving at least 1-2 millimeters.
- Use tweezers to gently push a tiny piece of cotton or gauze into the corner where the nail has grown. This will help create space between the nail and the skin.
- Cut off the visible corner of the nail or ingrown spur to relieve pressure and pain. This will be most easily done with round-ended tweezers, also sometimes referred to as podiatry scissors.
- Apply tea tree oil or other disinfectant to your nail.
- Wear open or wide toe shoes.
Aftercare
After you treat your ingrown toenail, make sure your toe is healing properly and there are no signs of infection.
As needed, you can take pain medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) or apply an anti-inflammatory cream.
Be sure to keep your nails clean and dry.
Wear loose, open-toed shoes or sandals.
Avoid excessive walking, running and jumping for two weeks after trimming a severely ingrown toenail.
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables to help your body recover faster and avoid smoking.
Do not self-medicate if your nail is deeply ingrown or infected. In this case, you should consult a doctor. The doctor can also show you the best way to trim your toenails to prevent ingrown toenails. Knowing the reasons why the nail grows in will help prevent the recurrence of this phenomenon in the future.
An ingrown toenail is not a big problem in the initial stages, but if left unattended, the symptoms can get worse and not only be uncomfortable, but can also be dangerous to your health. Do not ignore the bells of your body, be healthy and beautiful! :)