DIY treatment for an ingrown toe nail?

[schroeder]

DH is in a world of pain over an ingrown toenail on his big toe. He has foolishly(IMO)hacked it back as short as possible, this means I can't use my patented method for curing them; I 1st cut down the nail a few mms from the side then pull the outer strip of nail out with tweezers et voila no more ingrown nail.
Has anyone any ideas?

You DH has my sympathy - it's horrid, but seems to strike many people as a bit funny.

Soak it in very warm water with some antiseptic in it. This will soften the toe and the nail making it more comfortable and easier to work with.

You can then try sliding something thin/flat/blunt (one of the orange sticks for doing manicures might work) slightly under the nail from the middle to the affected side, lifting it a little.

You might get a burst of pus, which will at least relieve the pain, or even be able to get at the long splinter of nail and snip it off.

Plenty of antiseptic cream once you fininshed.

However..... I really think he should go to the GP. I had my ingrowing toe nail properly dealt with a few years ago and it has 100% solved the problem.

Also... in future try snipping a small 'V' into the nail (instead of trimming down the side). It lets the nail flex, and reduces the pressure but without the danger of leaving a splinter of nail hidden down the side.

Ouch poor thing, I have had one big toe done on both sides and the other on one side. Quite unbelieveable how painful they can be, I was reduced to tears by people treading on mine, they are truly agonising.

But anyway, as PP said cutting a V in the middle of the nail (what is left of it) will reduce the pressure on both sides.

You could also (hope this makes sense) tuck a piece of cotton wool down between the skin and nail, near the top, on the poorly side. This also relieves the pressure, only a tiny bit, but every little helps!!

It is a good idea to see the doc because if the toe is infected it won't clear up on its own.

As I said, I had the op (three times!) but several years earlier I had both big toes affected then and they cleared up on their own without surgery. They must have grown out so to speak, it's hard to remember.

Toes now hurting just from thinking about it lol!