Embarrassing Bodies Week: Ingrown Toe Nails

Thursday 5 April 2012



Ingrown nails can not only look disgusting but can be painful. Every step can be painful. Wearing closed shoes or socks are a nightmare. Ingrown nails can also happen to your hands, but are much more common on your feet. 


To help prevent ingrown nails, make sure you cut your nails straight. You can file them to make them rounded so the tips aren't sharp. Make sure your feet are clean. Use an antibacterial wash or spray onto your feet to keep the skin bacteria free. 


If you can, roll a piece of cotton (or use dental floss) to place between the skin and nail to stop it rolling back into the skin. This can be painful, but after a week or two of this the nail will grow and no longer poke into the skin. 


Also make sure your footwear fits properly. If you have too tight shoes it can just make an ingrown toe feel worse. Try to wear open toe shoes like sandals rather than closed in shoes. Or if you need closed in shoes for work, once you get home take them off. 


If you are still dealing with an ingrown toe, see a doctor. In severe cases, you may need surgery. 

3 comments:

  1. I'm so glad I've never had this but from every time I've hit my toe against the coffee table, I know our little toes can hurt badly X

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  2. I am so glad that I have never had an ingrown toenail! Sounds awful! xx

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  3. Ohhh Ingrid, be careful!! It can also be caused from dropping things on your toe, or stubbing it. XO

    MBB- it is really painful. I've only had it once, but it was so hard to walk. :( XO

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