Toenail and Foot Conditions Archives

preventing ---in-grown toenails

I am terribly frightened by the in-grown toenail fairy and I want to take measures before she visits me. My mother had a run-in with her several years and I am still having flash-backs of the terrible incident. I think that one of my toenails may becoming in-grown. I was unable to find prevention methods on your site. What did you do to prevent them for the past 50 years?
Diana

Follow Ups:

• Easy to treat and prevent! Mary [69.10] 20:55:28 1/17/05 (0)
• Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails (archive) Walt Stoll [9.1465] 07:36:11 1/17/05 (0)
• Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails Ron [1013.1671] 13:20:58 1/16/05 (0)
• Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails ChironDave [1460.20] 13:15:23 1/16/05 (1)
  • Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails Ron [1540.1671] 14:52:45 1/16/05 (0)

In Reply to: preventing ---in-grown toenails posted by Diana Orr [15.1461] on January 16, 2005 at 12:00:38:

There is a "gutter like" structure along the edge of each nail (a nail groove) which keeps the edge of that nail from digging into the skin below it. That "gutter" can be dislodged when cleaning the nails but being drug out the side.

With that protective "gutter" gone then nail gradually digs into the skin below, infection can occur. Bingo, you have an ingrown toenail.

Be very careful when cleaning your nails to not disrupt this protective "gutter".

It's also advisable to not trim the outer edges of the nail too short. Going shorter than the end margins of where the toe and the nail touch will disrupt the groove as well.

You would also do well to avoid shoes that are tight up front. It compresses the nail inward and can cut into the skin that way as well.

Follow Ups:

• Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails Ron [1540.1671] 14:52:45 1/16/05 (0)

In Reply to: preventing ---in-grown toenails posted by Diana Orr [15.1461] on January 16, 2005 at 12:00:38:

Hi Diana,

Two things to remember...

1/ Wear shoes that do not put pressure on the corners of the
toenails. If they do, you could even loose a nail.
As you get older, feeling to the toes may decrease and it becomes easier to ignore pain. If this happens, beware of
diabetic nerve damage.

2/ Wash your feet and Check your nails at least every second day to make sure that they are cut square completely to the outside edge. Don't let any embedded high spots have a chance to dig into the skin or callouses will form and weld to the growing nail.

In Reply to: Re: preventing ---in-grown toenails posted by ChironDave [1460.20] on January 16, 2005 at 13:15:23:

Hi Chiron,

That was an excellent explanation which even I understood. :)

I made the mistake a few times of pulling at the ragged edges of skin in the area of the "gutter" Not only was it extermely painful, I paid the price for a week or two until the nail grew out a bit more. It is also very easy to start an infection by being too aggressive with the skin where it meets the front edge of the nail.

Sometimes it is worth seeing a manicurist and paying attention to what they do for a living. It is also easier on the back as we get "better" :)

Ron

In Reply to: preventing ---in-grown toenails posted by Diana Orr [15.1461] on January 16, 2005 at 12:00:38:

Hi, Diana.

Listen to Ron and ChironDave since I cannot improve upon their explanation.

See any anatomy atlas about this and you will begin to understand exactly WHY they have said what they have.

Toenails should never be trimmed like hand nails. They have to be trimmed straight across so that they look like someone used a hatchet to them. The edges must be as long as the middle. You will understand this once you understand how they grow normally.

Hope this helps. Once they are already ingrown hot soaks (if you are not diabetic--which I know YOU are not) and possible surgery are your options.

Walt

In Reply to: preventing ---in-grown toenails posted by Diana Orr [15.1461] on January 16, 2005 at 12:00:38:

I had an ingrown toenail that sent me to the podiatrist early last year. He shot the toe with an anesthetic-the whole office could hear me yell-I won't let that happen again.

He did some sort of procedure, I think he called it an ablasion?? Anyway, three months later, the ingrown nail "resurfaced" with soreness and redness.

Here's how to fix it: Cut a "V" in the center of the nail (edge of nail-center). The nail will now tend to grow towards the middle and away from the edges. It works! My nail is fine now. Every once in a while, I get an ingrown nail. As soon as I notice any soreness or redness I remember to cut a "V". Years ago, I learned about this technique and then forgot about it. Thus, the painful experience with the doctor.