How to cut an ingrown toenail is a method that helps cut off excess nail or the part that bites into the flesh, which causes wounds and pain in the finger. By learning how to cut an ingrown toenail correctly, it will help reduce the severity of the ingrown toenail and reduce the risk of infection.
Ingrown toenail is a condition in which the corner of the nail grows into the flesh, causing pain, inflammation , or infection . Ingrown toenails are a common condition caused by improper nail cutting, wearing shoes that are too tight, nail injuries, and other causes. Since ingrown toenails often affect your daily life, knowing how to cut your ingrown toenails correctly by yourself may help you treat them better.
How to cut ingrown nails easily in just 3 steps
Before starting to cut the ingrown toenail, you should wait until the nail has grown long. Cutting the nail too short can make the ingrown toenail worse. While waiting for the nail to grow long, you can take care of the nail in the following ways:
- Soak your feet in water.
Soaking your feet in warm salt water can help reduce swelling and pain caused by an ingrown toenail, as well as help prevent infection. Soak your feet two to three times a day for 10 to 30 minutes. Soaking your feet before cutting your nails can also help soften the nails and make them easier to cut.
- Use cotton to insert under the nails.
After soaking your feet, wipe them with a clean cloth. Then, insert a cotton swab under the corner of the ingrown toenail to prevent the nail from growing out of place and puncturing the flesh, causing a wound. The cotton swab should be changed daily or when it becomes dirty.
Your doctor may also recommend applying an antibiotic ointment twice daily to the irritated area to prevent infection and help relieve pain. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using the medication and follow it for effectiveness and safety.
- Cut off the ingrown toenail that has grown out.
After the nails have grown 1-2 millimeters, you can start the cutting process. Start by cleaning the nail clippers with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection, and cut in a straight line, not a curve. Then cut off the excess nail that grows out at the corners of the nails. If using regular nail clippers is inconvenient, use special ingrown toenail clippers that are more suitable for cutting corners.
During the ingrown toenail, in addition to keeping your feet clean and waiting for the toenail to grow, you should also wear sandals or open-toed shoes to prevent the edge of the shoe from hitting the ingrown toenail, which could make it even more painful.
Easy ways to prevent ingrown nails
To prevent ingrown toenails from happening again, we should learn how to properly care for our nails as follows:
- Always keep nail clippers, files, and other nail trimmers clean.
- Do not pick or tear off nails.
- Nails should always be cut in a straight line, not in a curve or V shape, and not cut too short. The corners of the nails should be left above the skin.
- File some of your nails instead of cutting them to prevent cutting them too short and risking ingrown nails.
Cutting and caring for an ingrown toenail properly may help speed up healing. However, if your toenail doesn’t heal properly and you have signs of infection, such as red or other unusual skin color, increased swelling, blood, pus , or foul odor, see a doctor for proper treatment.
