How do I remove DD's big toenail?!

[cordiality]

Gross, I know. She bashed it about 2 months ago, I didn't really notice until quite recently that it has come almost entirely away from the toe. I thInk it's just attached along the right length, and only really attached to skin at the bottom.

It's hard to tell as she totally freaks out when I try to look at it. She's just turned two.

Do I take her to the GP? Or find a chiropodist? Will it have to come off and will it grow back?!

I've never lost a toenail. Bit lost with this one!

[shabbatheGreek]

GP first.

My DS4 (he is 15) has had loads of problems with his big toe nails. Not injured it like your DD but he has ingrowing toenails. Had operations on both sides of each nail and a few weeks ago had one toenail removed completely.

We have to get a referral from our GP before we can see the chiropodist.

[Bumply]

They do (generally) grow back. Takes absolutely Ages though.

[ZipItShrimpy]

My DS has lost about 4 toenails in the 7 years he has been alive! He's very accident prone and has dropped things and shut doors on his toes too many times to count.

Every time I have just pulled them off myself!

They are usually attached by a wee bit of dead skin at the bottom and just peel off without any bother. It has certainly never hurt him. If you leave it long enough it will be easy and I don't think you will need to go to the Gp. It is dead so should not cause any pain and when it comes off you'll see the new one growing under it. It might even just fall off if you're lucky.

Nobody prepares you for these things when you have children!

[shabbatheGreek]

Is it just me that pulled an 'ouch' face reading zipits post? I watched the entire nail removal procedure on my DS......I went boiling hot, felt sick and thought I was going to faint - whilst all the time he laughed at my reactions. Toenails are horrible LOL

[cordiality]

Thank so much for the advice. I'm with Shabba, it really does make me feel toe-curlingly nauseous. Trying very hard to be grown up about it.

I agree that it would probably pull off at the bottom if it wasn't so strongly attached at the side. Do you think if I wait, the new toenail will push the old one to unattach? I reckon it's still about 3mm attached up the right side.

Vom.

[ZipItShrimpy]

I think the difference though Shabba is that your son's ingrown nails was still alive, whereas if its been damaged and dies, its ready to come off and won't hurt. I promise I would never attempt something like that if I thought it would cause pain!

I think if you did wait it would probably detach itself eventually but if you are squeamish about it it's probably best not to attempt removing it yourself if you're not confident as it will possibly be obvious to your Dd and might make her more nervous.

I'm a nurse, so positively rejoice in gross things! Send her round to mine.

[shabbatheGreek]

Zipit He was only 9 when he had his first partial nail removal......and, yes you are right, the nail was very much still alive. Cannot believe just how far a tiny sliver grew into the toe. No matter how carefully we cut his nails - in fact we tend to let the one he has left grow a little and then file it - we could NOT stop them ingrowing. I think he will eventually have to have the whole nail off the other toe in the future. He put some amazing pics on his facebook as his profile picture!!! teenage boys are disgusting!!

[shabbatheGreek]

....and I take my hat off to anyone who is a nurse!! I was really interested in doing midwifery until I realised that I cant deal with poo and vomit LOL

[5madthings]

Give her a good soak in the barh and it will prob come off :)

Two if mine have done this and it has eventually grown back.

[5madthings]

A good soak in the bath.

[Jestrin]

We are just waiting for DS's ingrowing toenail to be dealt with! I'll probably watch as I don't mind at all whereas DH would probably faint!

[ZipItShrimpy]

Shabba I used to be a bit squeamish when I first started but you get used to it. I still get the boak at lots of sights and smells!

Your poor Ds. That sounds awful!

[StickEmWithThePointyEnd]

Dh fainted when he had his ingrowing toenail sorted.

My finger was shut in a door when I was about 7 and it went black then fell off. I didn't even notice it had gone so it didn't hurt.

[shabbatheGreek]

The Chiropodist said ingrowing nails are hereditry....I asked how come? Her actual words.....'because you are both overweight and have very fleshy fat big toes you will always get them!!!!!!!' LOL - Oh thanks for that - that explains everything!!

[ZipItShrimpy]

I must be due one anytime then!