Ingrown Toenail Help!

Hey Guys, Im new here so sorry if its posted in the wrong section, so on the 17th i had my toenail partially removed, about a half on my big toe, i just wanted to know if there is any speical precautions i should take for anything to take care of my toe, just anything would be greatfull as much as you could possibly think of, bassically the dressing and stuff like that! also when should the nail grow back? and can you telli if its infected?

Thanks Heaps

Caleb did your dr not give you any instructions on how to care for your toe? If not, like Judy suggested, contact your dr on what you need to be doing with the care of the toe.

Susie

I'm a licensed and practicing nail technician, so I've worked with quite a few people who have had this done. I'm really surprised that your doctor didn't tell you how to care for it! I would definitely contact the doctor, because there are products they can prescribe/recommend to help keep it very clean and DRY, as well as to prevent a recurrence of whatever issue caused the removal.

Usually you can tell if there's infection if there is any redness, swelling, heat or puffiness. You should be applying some sort of special antiseptic on it a few times a day. Usually doctors will say (in my clients' experience) that you want to keep it dressed until the wound is healed, i.e. no broken skin. However, if you are at home lounging around, fresh air can be really good for the wound, as well as a great time to apply that antiseptic! I'm not referring to Neosporin, usually it's a prescription, though I sell Thymol Antiseptic and I've had some clients whose doctors told them to just use that.

The large toenail generally takes 6-8 months to grow from the cuticle out to the free edge - sometimes with damaged nails that process can take a little longer.

If it was just an ingrown toenail that caused it, then it's basically just about preventing infection, keeping the nail dry, but also keeping the skin around the nail supple. The cuticles around the nail can have a tendency to get hardened on anybody's toenails, and with having part of the nail removed, that hard skin can keep the nail from growing out in the same shape - basically pushed over to one side and not being as wide anymore. When this happens, the nail usually thickens as well, which can become uncomfortable over time.

I also have trouble with ingrown toenails, and I have a tool that I use after soaking for 15 minutes in warm water with epsom salts. Basically it's a small metal file that once I've soaked I can actually work it in under the sides of my big toenails and file VERY gently and non-aggressively - less is more. Anyone can buy these, just Google ingrown toenail files. Definitely don't do this until the toe has healed and you see how the nail is growing out.