Ingrown Toe Nails

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

• Necrotosing fascittis
• Gangrene

This condition can lead to:

• Whitlow
• Skin infection
• Cellulitis

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

General tips

• Trim the nail straight across
• Push the skin away from the nail (use olive oil to soften the skin and use a cotton bud to do this)
• Wash hands regularly.
• Do not pick at infection.
• Use separate towels (do not share) especially when washing feet.
• Foot hygiene is very important, wash regularly every day in warm soapy water especially between toes and ‘pat dry’ thoroughly.
• Allow feet to breath. Take shoes and socks off when you can.
• Wear sandals (beware of strapped sandals as they can cause blisters) and flip flops.
• Try not to be barefooted where there are lots of people (e.g. swimming pool and communal areas).
• Try to avoid sweaty environments (e.g. gyms), Sweaty environments allow fungus to grow.
• Avoid wearing trainers or synthetic shoes, they hold in moisture and let fungus grow. Leather shoes are fine.
• Wear cotton socks.
• Avoid tight fitting shows (that stop water vapour escaping).
• Change socks daily and shoes after exercising.
• Change shoes every two to three days.
• Leave your shoes out in the sunlight to kill fungus in the shoes.
• Wear socks before underwear to prevent infection from feet to reach the groin area.
• Use dusting powders (if suitable) in socks and shoes to prevent re-infection
• Use foot sprays (if suitable) to prevent infection.
• Stop smoking (See site)
• Keep nails short to prevent nail infections and it will also help to keep the nail bed cool.

Foot care Patient Advice (especially diabetics) and poor blood circulation

• Look at feet each day. If you are not able to check if someone else can, particularly if you have reduced sensation in feet.
• If you get a cut, bruises, redness, blister bleeding; please see your medical doctor, in the meantime cover it up with a clean dry dressing.
• If you have dry skin, use a moisturising cream or oil but do not use between toes (one may have athletes foot or be at risk).
• Wash feet regularly everyday in warm soapy (anti-bacterial soap) water especially between toes and ‘pat dry’ thoroughly.
• Try to avoid foot burns:
  • Check bath temperature with hand before you put your feet in.
  • Keep your feet away from hot objects e.g. hot water bottles, electric blankets, close to fire, hearers
  • Avoid slip on shoes
  • Avoid top flat shoes, pointy shoes (have broad front with room for toes, sandals and flip flops that cause rubbing).
  • Always feel inside shoes for stones or rough edges before you put them on.
  • Always wear comfortable low heel shoes/trainers, (heels too low can strain the foot arch, cause sore and cracked heels)
  • Make sure they fit well (comfortable fastening, liner and buckles to prevent rubbing otherwise can get blisters). Take into account any corns, bunions, awkward shape. (If have no choice, consider specially fitted shoes to take account of bunions, corns deformities)
  • When buying new shoes, wear your usual socks.
  • Gradually break in new shoes.
• Always wear comfortable socks (not too tight) with footwear. Socks protect you from a rubbing shoe.
• Do not walk bare foot anywhere. One may damage their feet.
• Rotate ones ankles move feet up and down and do regular feet exercise to improve suppleness and blood circulation.
• If taken measure above or feel if infection is severe, please see a medical doctor for treatment.

Hot baths and massage

• Some diabetics cannot tell if their skin feels hot or cold sensations (peripheral neuropathy) and may burn their skin leading to skin infection and/or a serious muscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis.
• Hot baths can increase blood flow and may reduce blood glucose levels in one’s blood due to an increase in insulin levels produced by ones body.
• Massages are fine if one has no poor circulation, it is not fine if one has poorly controlled or advanced  diabetes and/or is prone to muscle breakdown this can lead  to numbness, heart problems and/or kidney failure  as well as a  serious muscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis.
• Avoid massaging areas when one has insulin injected as the pressure in the area may influence the way their body absorbs the shot and their alter their intake.
• Excessive heat can can cause your heart to beat faster which may be of concern if one has an underlying heart issue/cardiovascular issue.

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Please use our Nail Aftercare Service for further investigation via logging in