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AIBU?

To fix ingrown toe nail myself?

24 replies

NurseScorne · 27/05/2017 22:32

I feel like stabbing a screwdriver down it. The pressure is unbearable

OP posts:
TobleroneBoo · 27/05/2017 22:40

I have before, not sure if it was fully ingrown. Soak in epsom salt water and carefully wedge a tiny piece of cotton wool under the ingrown bit

leavethelighton · 27/05/2017 22:43

I've done this on a couple of occasions - if I remember right, I was able to dig out the sharp edge with nail scissors and cut it off. As long as it's not horribly ingrown and you keep it really clean, I always think I'd rather sort it myself.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 27/05/2017 22:44

You need to have this moved to Sporner's Corner and document your progress with pictures.

Everyone will be very encouraging and supportive.

tomatopuree · 27/05/2017 22:47

What section is sporners corner in. I can't find it

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 27/05/2017 22:51

Not sure. I find it via google.

Once you're there it's lovely, though.

Lucky11111 · 27/05/2017 22:55

You can get a special metal 'ingrowing toenail file' on amazon. Designed to get underneath the jagged bit, and gently smooth it away. I've had one for years - it's fantastic ...

Misodays · 27/05/2017 22:55

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sporner_corner
Enjoy sporners, it's in the in the club section Grin
I have before I followed a YouTube video of how to cut through it and pull it out as you do! Pretty much instant relief!

Allthewaves · 27/05/2017 23:06

Treated myself many times as I have damaged nail after an accident years ago that always ingrows at the side. Pair of tweezers and nail scissors - I sterilise both then slowly cut down the side using tweezers to pull out grown in part. Then soak foot in antiseptic

tomatopuree · 27/05/2017 23:07

I'm a sporner. Love dr pimple popper ❤️

Coastalcommand · 27/05/2017 23:08

Yes I'd cut down the side and pull the resulting little bit out with tweezers. Hurts while you do it but such relief!

Fennecfoxmummy · 28/05/2017 00:00

Sooo I've not visited sporners corner before today... wow 😷

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 28/05/2017 00:05

I always sort out my own ingrown toenails.

Soak in the bath so they're soft then cut vertically down the side a little way. Then using tweezers or nail clippers I pull away the side that's been digging in. I then whack a load of sudocrem on.

Pooka · 28/05/2017 00:08

Soak foot (maybe in potassium permanganate, dissolved in water). Then with nail scissors make a vertical cut in the nail near the side. Orange stick under the slither. When my brother had one the gp said to soak small piece of cotton wool in dissolved potassium permanganate and then push under the slither to sort of bend it up and slightly proud to encourage nail up rather than to carry on growing into the flesh. Change the cotton wool every day. I did this when I had one and it was brilliant. Felt like I was a foot surgeon and v empowering. But obviously if infected, go to gp (why my brother ended up there).

stellacat123 · 28/05/2017 00:10

Go and see a podiatrist to get it sorted properly.

squoosh · 28/05/2017 00:10

If you are in Scotland by any chance you can self refer to a chiropodist and they will sort it for you.

The problem with 'fixing' it at home is that it will usually just grow back again.

squoosh · 28/05/2017 00:11

Self refer to an NHS chiropodist that should have said.

Iggi999 · 28/05/2017 00:16

Squoosh, how does that work? Do you just phone one?

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/05/2017 00:17

I wouldn't; it can be very dangerous and you could make the problem a lot worse.

squoosh · 28/05/2017 00:21

Yep you can just google the phone number for your local NHS chiropody clinic, make a consultation appointment, then they'll have a look and book you into their nail surgery clinic. It's a really good service.

squoosh · 28/05/2017 00:23
Iggi999 · 28/05/2017 00:25

Thanks Squoosh Flowers

BuggersMuddle · 28/05/2017 00:38

I used to fix my own once I'd taken note a few times of what the chiropodist did. Essentially mine was 'keep it under control and see if it stops recurring over time' or 'remove nail'. Made sure I had the right stuff too & sterilised scissors (not sure I'd know what to do with potassium permanganate these days right enough, so if I had a bad one I'd still go to a professional).

Oddly (don't know if it was cheap / ill-fitting shoes as a teen / 20-something) it virtually never recurs these days (and certainly not the oozy horror I had 15+ years ago) and I still have my toenails.

If it's a first occurrence or you can get a quick, free referral I'd still go to a podiatrist tbh. Back when I was self-treating, I'd had loads of professional treatments & it was all self-funding and I was a poor student-

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emmyrose2000 · 28/05/2017 00:53

I'd recommend going to the doctor. The first time I had an ingrown toenail, she gave me antibiotics. I was amazed at how quickly it cleared things up. I can't remember whether she did anything else, such as cut/dig bits out.

The second time (years later) taking antibiotics wasn't an option, so we tried all sorts of external things - bathing in different solutions, cutting the nail back a few times etc. Nothing worked.

Then one day when I was in the dr surgery, I hobbled over to the exam table, and as I was climbing into the table I accidentally thwacked my foot - at the very point where the ingrown nail part was - on the very hard metal ladder bars. OMG!! The pain!! Shock To this day, it remains the most painful thing I've ever experienced (and I've gone through childbirth without pain relief). However, it had the fortunate result of releasing all the gunk and infection from my foot (all over the surgery wall behind me. Yuck!) And I was fine after that.

Both times, it was my own fault for cutting my nail a gazillionth of a millimetre too short. Lesson learned. But if it happens again I will definitely be getting antibiotics rather than trying my second method again.Grin

gallicgirl · 28/05/2017 01:15

I should post a pic of my DH's self-inflicted ingrown toe nail.

It's months after it happened and he "fixed" it but it's still painful and weeping.

Hmm

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