How can i tell if i have an ingrown toenail: Ingrown toenails – Symptoms and causes
Ingrown toenail – NHS
An ingrown toenail is a common problem where the nail grows into the toe. It can be painful, but there are things you can do to ease the pain.
Check if you have an ingrown toenail
You usually get an ingrown toenail on your big toe. But you can get them on any toe.
Your toe may be red, painful and swollen.
Credit:
ISM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/520431/view
Your toenail may curve into your toe.
Credit:
DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/266548/view
Your toe can also get infected.
Signs of an infected toe include:
- pus coming out of it
- you feel hot or shivery
How to treat an ingrown toenail at home
If you go to a GP with an ingrown toenail, they’ll usually suggest you try these things first.
Do
soak your foot in warm, salty water to help soften the skin around your toe and reduce the chances of infection
keep your foot dry for the rest of the day
wear wide, comfortable shoes or sandals
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
Don’t
do not cut your toenail – leave it to grow out
do not pick at your toe or toenail
do not wear tight, pointy shoes
A pharmacist can help with an ingrown toenail
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- treatments to help ease the pain and prevent an infection
- whether you need to see a GP
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- treating your ingrown toenail at home is not helping
- your toe is painful and swollen with pus coming out of it
- you have a very high temperature or you feel hot or shivery
- you have diabetes and an ingrown toenail – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
Treatments for an ingrown toenail
A GP can:
- check your toe to see if it’s an ingrown toenail
- give you antibiotics if your toenail is infected
If you have a badly ingrown toenail, they may refer you to a foot specialist (podiatrist).:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/toenail-trauma-1337801_final-91a19e2f9e61466cabf3af946098d621.png)
Treatment from a foot specialist
A podiatrist may offer further treatments, such as:
- cutting away part of the nail
- removing the whole nail
You’ll have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb your toe when this is done.
Referral to a podiatrist on the NHS may not be available to everyone and waiting times can be long. You can pay to see a podiatrist privately.
How to prevent ingrown toenails
To help stop ingrown toenails:
- do not cut your toenails too short
- cut straight across the nail, not the edges
- do not wear shoes that are too tight or do not fit properly
- keep your feet clean and dry them thoroughly
Page last reviewed: 24 January 2022
Next review due: 24 January 2025
Recognising the signs of an ingrown toenail
An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail grows into the skin on one or both sides of the nail bed.
It most commonly occurs in the big toe but can also affect smaller toes.
An ingrown toenail can have many symptoms, so how can you tell for sure if your sore toe is ingrown or just annoying?
Some of the main signs and symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
- Pain and tenderness in your toe along one or both sides of the nail. Pain will often be felt along one of the nail margins, where the nail may be growing into the skin
- Redness and warmth around your toenail
- Swelling of your toe around the nail
- Infection of the tissue around your toenail, which may be accompanied by a liquid or pus discharge
Ingrown toenails can be painful and frustrating. Fortunately, symptoms will usually resolve quickly with conservative treatment by a podiatrist and proper nail cutting. If the problem is recurring and does not respond to conservative podiatry treatment, a minor surgical procedure may be recommended.
If ingrown toenail surgery is recommended for you, you don’t need to see a doctor for this procedure.
Ingrown toenail surgery can be performed with a local anaesthetic by your podiatrist. At Entire Podiatry, all our podiatrists are qualified to perform this surgery in one of our fully equipped clinics.
If you are experiencing toe pain or would like further advice regarding your symptoms, contact us on 1800-4-ENTIRE to make an appointment at your nearest clinic location in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast.
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