Ingrown Toenails
Here's the good news. Ingrown toenails can be simply solved with a minimum of pain and discomfort, says Donald Skwor, D. P.M., a podiatrist in Memphis and past president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Now for the bad news. A simple nail infection, if not treated properly, can swiftly lead to further complications. When a sharp edge of a toenail grows in to the skin folds at its edge, it will result in pain and discomfort, especially if the wound gets infected. Diabetics and people with vascular disease in particular should get immediate medical treatment for ingrown toenails. People without circulatory problems, however, can usually take care of an ingrown toenail them selves, if they follow these tips from the experts.
Go Soak Your Toe : To relieve the soreness, soak your foot in warm, not hot, water. Put a tablespoon or two of Epsom salts in a basin of warm water, suggests Raymond Merkin, D. P.M., a podiatrist in Rockville, Maryland. Soak your toe for five to ten minutes, once or twice a day.
Try a Different Solution : Rock G. Positano, D. P.M., M. Sc., codirector of the Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Institute at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, is a fan of something called Domeboro solution. It's an antibacterial, anti inflammatory soak that's available without a prescription. Positano recommends nightly soaks of 20 to 30 minutes. Soaking in this solution should help bring down inflammation so that the nail can grow out naturally.
Apply Ointment : Spread a topical antibiotic dressing, such as Neosporin, on the wound to prevent infection, says Merkin.
Don't Play Surgeon : You're not helping matters by performing bathroom surgery on your toe. First of all. the implements in your medicine cabinet are probably chock full of bacteria. Secondly, you could hurt yourself. The first thing to do is not do bathroom surgery, says Positano, especially with a dirty instrument. You're many times introducing bacteria or foreign bodies. If the nail has grown in so deeply that it is causing serious infection, see a podiatrist.
Go Straight : No more curved toenails. Get in the habit of cutting them straight across. You can file the corners if they're sharp, says Merkin.
Don't Cut Too Short : When we stand up pressure pushes the skin up in front of the toenail. As the nail grows forward, it imbeds in to the skin. So it's best to cut the nail to the end of the skin, rather than below the end of the toe, says Merkin.
Step in to a Different Shoe : An ingrown toenail may be nature's way of telling you to go shopping. It's time for some new shoes, ones that don't pinch your toes. If you're a woman, avoid high heels. Try a lower heel (about one inch high) to relieve the pressure on your toes, suggests Skwor. Men and women should shop for shoes with a roomier toe.
Get Some Sandals, Too: If the weather allows, wear open toed sandals to allow your ailing toe to breathe. Positano describes the space inside socks and shoes as a very hostile environment for feet, one that's dark, damp, and hot. Healing will be speedier in the open air.
Watch Where You Walk : Now that you're padding around in sandals, positano wants you to be careful where you walk in them. Don't walk in the city streets, he cautions. There is too much bacteria that could enter your hurt toe. Wear your sandals around your home, but choose shoes with closed toes for urban excursions.
Guard Your Toes : Even while wearing shoes, you can hurt your toes pretty badly by dropping something on your foot. If you drop something on your toe that causes you to lose your toenail, the nail may grow in when it grows back, says Skwor. If dropping things is a problem for you, wear steel toed shoes, he advises.
Don't Stub : Stubbing your toe can result in an injury that affects the nail. Skwor notes, That can cause your nail to grow in a thickened manner or cause it to grow in.
Ignore Old Wives : There's an old wives' tale that by cutting a V in the top center of the nail, pressure will be relieved. That doesn't make sense, says Skwor, because the nail grows from the base of the toe. Another tale he has heard concerns rubbing coal oil in to the affected area. They say it helps, says Skwor, but he can't imagine why.
Pass on Some Pedicures : If you intend to have a pedicure, be sure the person who is performing it does not use metallic instruments to remove dead skin, says Positano. Pumice stones are ok.
Go Soak Your Toe : To relieve the soreness, soak your foot in warm, not hot, water. Put a tablespoon or two of Epsom salts in a basin of warm water, suggests Raymond Merkin, D. P.M., a podiatrist in Rockville, Maryland. Soak your toe for five to ten minutes, once or twice a day.
Try a Different Solution : Rock G. Positano, D. P.M., M. Sc., codirector of the Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Institute at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, is a fan of something called Domeboro solution. It's an antibacterial, anti inflammatory soak that's available without a prescription. Positano recommends nightly soaks of 20 to 30 minutes. Soaking in this solution should help bring down inflammation so that the nail can grow out naturally.
Apply Ointment : Spread a topical antibiotic dressing, such as Neosporin, on the wound to prevent infection, says Merkin.
Don't Play Surgeon : You're not helping matters by performing bathroom surgery on your toe. First of all. the implements in your medicine cabinet are probably chock full of bacteria. Secondly, you could hurt yourself. The first thing to do is not do bathroom surgery, says Positano, especially with a dirty instrument. You're many times introducing bacteria or foreign bodies. If the nail has grown in so deeply that it is causing serious infection, see a podiatrist.
Go Straight : No more curved toenails. Get in the habit of cutting them straight across. You can file the corners if they're sharp, says Merkin.
Don't Cut Too Short : When we stand up pressure pushes the skin up in front of the toenail. As the nail grows forward, it imbeds in to the skin. So it's best to cut the nail to the end of the skin, rather than below the end of the toe, says Merkin.
Step in to a Different Shoe : An ingrown toenail may be nature's way of telling you to go shopping. It's time for some new shoes, ones that don't pinch your toes. If you're a woman, avoid high heels. Try a lower heel (about one inch high) to relieve the pressure on your toes, suggests Skwor. Men and women should shop for shoes with a roomier toe.
Get Some Sandals, Too: If the weather allows, wear open toed sandals to allow your ailing toe to breathe. Positano describes the space inside socks and shoes as a very hostile environment for feet, one that's dark, damp, and hot. Healing will be speedier in the open air.
Watch Where You Walk : Now that you're padding around in sandals, positano wants you to be careful where you walk in them. Don't walk in the city streets, he cautions. There is too much bacteria that could enter your hurt toe. Wear your sandals around your home, but choose shoes with closed toes for urban excursions.
Guard Your Toes : Even while wearing shoes, you can hurt your toes pretty badly by dropping something on your foot. If you drop something on your toe that causes you to lose your toenail, the nail may grow in when it grows back, says Skwor. If dropping things is a problem for you, wear steel toed shoes, he advises.
Don't Stub : Stubbing your toe can result in an injury that affects the nail. Skwor notes, That can cause your nail to grow in a thickened manner or cause it to grow in.
Ignore Old Wives : There's an old wives' tale that by cutting a V in the top center of the nail, pressure will be relieved. That doesn't make sense, says Skwor, because the nail grows from the base of the toe. Another tale he has heard concerns rubbing coal oil in to the affected area. They say it helps, says Skwor, but he can't imagine why.
Pass on Some Pedicures : If you intend to have a pedicure, be sure the person who is performing it does not use metallic instruments to remove dead skin, says Positano. Pumice stones are ok.
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