Is your toenail causing you a world of pain and irritation? Getting an ingrown toenail can be a daunting experience, to say the least.
Oddly enough, ingrown toenails are quite common, and that’s no surprise. It’s easy to cut your nails in an improper way and not even know it. Not to mention, a variety of other reasons why nails start to grow in.
In this article, we will cover how to fix an ingrown toenail, so that you can get back on your feet and walk for miles without pain. Starting with chiropodist Oxford treatment, and going as far as at-home nail maintenance.
So whenever you’re ready to mend your body and no longer fear your own step, keep reading.
Can a Chiropodist Oxford Remove a Toenail?
In most cases, the sequence of chiropodist Oxford treatment is similar within the realm of this industry, starting with moderate treatment first, but taking a more serious approach later on.
However, depending on the circumstance and condition of your ingrown toenail, drastic measures might be attempted first.
How to Get Rid of an Infected Ingrown Toenail?
For a slightly ingrown nail, which has pain and redness with no puss, your doctor might carefully live the edge of the nail, and place something under it, such as a splint, floss, or cotton.
This will separate the date from the skin and help it start growing over the skin edge. When you’re sent home, you will need to soak the toe daily and replace the material.
For a more serious condition, which does have pus, your doctor will remove or trim the ingrown part of the nail. Before this, they will numb the toe with an anesthetic.
If the problem continues to happen after removal, your doctor might suggest removing a greater part of your nail along the nail bed. This might prevent your nail from ever-growing back, but that’s not a certainty.
Your doctor will use a laser, chemical treatment, or some other method to remove the nail. They might also advise using oral and topical antibiotics, especially if there is a risk for infection.
Will an Ingrown Toenail Cause Numbness? How to Tell if a Toenail Is Infected?
To the first question, simply said, no. To the second question, you will be able to tell quite easily. If your skin is inflamed and has pus coming out of it, that’s a pretty good sign of infection.
However, there are some things to consider. If you suspect the nail will become ingrown, you can try to trim your nails straight without making them pointed or rounded.
You should also avoid cutting them too short, leave them just long enough so that the corners lie loosely against the skin. Use clippers that are designed for toenails.
Healthcare specialists do not advise people to cut their own ingrown nails. If the nail brings lots of pain and is getting worse, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Bathroom surgery should be avoided at all costs, this is because cutting the nail short or too often can make ingrowing even worse, thus increasing the risk of complications.
It’s also recommended that you fully avoid clipping or digging out an already ingrown toenail. An ingrown nail can easily pierce the skin, this makes it easy for bacteria to enter the body and cause an infection.
Attempting to cut the nail yourself will increase this risk even more, as it will damage the skin further, especially if the nail is already embedded in the tissue. Cutting the edge too shot will increase the risk of another toenail becoming ingrown.
Ingrown Toenail Care At-Home
If you do get an ingrown toenail, there are some things you can do to ensure your medical treatment goes even better. Furthermore, some of the advised things will help you alleviate the pain.
For instance, you can take over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help. You can also use a numbing spray or cream, even though this will not treat the infection, it will help reduce the pain.
You should definitely soak your feet in warm water regularly. Adding Epsom salt can help with the swelling and pain. In some cases, gentle massage around the area can improve blood flow, which might expedite healing.
After soaking your feet, always dry them well. Apply antibacterial cream to the area, to avoid a toenail infection. Wear loose-fitting shoes, even better if you can wear open-toe shoes.
Some people would advise placing dental floss or cotton under the toenail to reduce pressure, but this should be done by a doctor. Especially, because cotton can actually make things worse and increase the infection risk.
How to Prevent the Nail Getting Ingrown?
You should always make use of clippers that are created for toenails since they help accommodate the proper shape and have enough force to quickly trim.
You should also wash your clippers before and after each use. Using dirty tools will introduce bacteria and increase the risk of infection.
Do not cut your nails short. The nail should not be much shorter than the toe. Cutting your nails short will increase the risk of it growing unusually.
You should also cut the toenails in a straight fashion across. Pointed or rounded shapes will induce the possibility of ingrown toenails even more.
Don’t wear tight-fitting shoes. Shoes that are too tight will pinch your toes, making it hard for them to move. Pointed-toe shoes are even more conducive towards this.
Keep in mind that some people are more susceptible to ingrown toenails, either because of medical or genetic conditions. For instance, nerve damage and diabetes can cause serious problems, as well as slow healing.
People with a weaker immune system will be at greater risk of infection too. Repeatedly getting ingrown nails can be a symptom of a more serious health condition.
Ingrown Toenail Begone
Now that you know how to fix an ingrown toenail, you are well on your way to ensure your feet get taken care of. As long as you act soon and push through the fear of consequence, you will be recovering in no time.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment and get your toenail examined by a chiropodist Oxford, get in touch with us and we will happily accommodate your needs.
This post has been written by Dr Ajay Murgai, he is a highly experienced General and Cosmetic Dental Surgeon. Dr Ajay runs clinics in Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Harley Street, and carries out a full spectrum of treatments from Aesthetic Dentistry to routine examinations.
