IS there any way to prevent an ingrowing toenail?

[ScaryMonsterStories]

I caught my toe under a door last week, which has basically ripped more nail of than should be cut - not an excessive amount, but too much IYSWIM.

Can I prevent an ingrowing toenail?

yes, if you can tuck some cotton wool in under the corner (where you expect it to start ingrowing) it will pack it out and stop it growing in further. You have to really push it in though with scissors or tweezers.

TY, will try that.

did it work? it should've taken the pressure off the skin and made it more comfortable at least.

I am not sure I did it right. It was very sore trying to do it and it fell out overnight.

I was about to post back for any further advice actually.

i was told about it by a chiropodist ... it is sore though as i suppose you are basically trying to pack something underneath to try and stop it growing inwards. If it isnt too painful I would try again maybe just put a little in at first (perhaps after a soak in the bath to soften it up) and really get it well in and then put some more in later as the nail starts to ease up. If it is already pretty ingrown then it probably won't work .. you may need to go and have a section of the nail cut away. Hopefully someone will come along with a bit more of an idea than me though!

It is not ingrown at all ATM.

I injured it last weekend and the bit of nail which was still attached was cathing and came away Tues overnight.

What exactly is the ingrowing bit? Is it just the corner growing into the side skin or can it 'ingrow all the way across into the nail bed? It was sore all hte way across a few days ago - but that has eased now.

I am no expert but I think it is the edge of the nail growing into your skin. I had a horrific one once that had to be cut away the whole way down by the chiropodist ... was soooo painful. Luckily every other time it has been sore I have packed it out and it seems to have held it at bay. Doesnt sound as if yours is ingrown .. just keep an eye on it!

Indeed. I kind of know it isn't actually ingrown. But I know that I don't want it to ingrow IYSWIM!!!

Tip to stop them ingrowing in the future, cut your toenails straight and file them off to a rounded square shape. A chiropodist recommended this to me and it works, yes it's a faff but I haven't had an ingrown one since I started to do this.

If it's fallen out completely and growing back normally and you have normal shaped toes it shouldn't get ingrown - but running something under the edge from one side to the other to lift it up can help iyswim.

Once it's started ingrowing if it's early days then the cotton wool trick.

Also soaking your feet every evening to soften up the skin.

What makes you think it will get ingrown?

TY Rantinghousewife. I do normally cut them straight(ish). Tis only a concern as I bent half my nail back which subsequently ripped itself of in bed after an accident with a door.

It isn't feeling as sore as it was on Weds (the first day after ripping off completely)