Ingrown toenail help

[Wooshka]

I have just found out that some people use an acrylic/hard or buff off gel layer to help with straightening out their ingrown toenails.

I have developed one over the winter months and I think it's from wearing a certain pair of shoes, even though they don't feel tight but my toe hurts when I wear them.
What's funny is, when I push with my finger all around that area, it does not hurt at all but the second I lay in bed and my toe touches the bed it hurts like hell and is actually waking me up from the pain.
It's not red or looking infected at all, it's not swollen or discolored in any way the only thing that is noticeable is that my nail is growing curled under into the skin now.
I have never had this happen before.

So anyway, I would never do this on a client, I always send them to the doctor but am happy to try it on myself (as us techs always try things on ourselves but not clients

Has anybody else ever tried this and does it really work?
If you have, any tips would be great as I would like to try it out cause it's getting really annoying now.

Thanks

 

[mizzy_dizzy]

I'm not sure with out looking at it ,
Sometimes they grow pinched look if your looking down the barrel of your toe,
this is easiest you can use clippers that look a bit like pliers and cut corners out while looking at it,

Or if you cant quite see where it's growing under / it's growing in at the side you can use a rasp to file away the side / corner ,

Then shape.

I have herd of people using gel but if you cut it out it will be sorted

If you try gel keep it clear so you can see your toe nail it might be something else ,

And keep it short , I've herd of people especially with opaque colored gel toes loosing the toe nail as they let them grow to long and didn't see what was happening under the gel!

 

[Faf]

Cut the corner it is easier and won't look bad.. it does hurt though and the sooner u do it the better

I used to suffer from that a lot but now I know how to choose my shoes but sadly end up giving away new expensive shoes sometimes better be safe than sorry!

 

[Wooshka]

Thanks guys

It is curling in as it grows, so if you were looking down the barrel it looks like a sideways c curve sort of thing.

Like, I said it is not sore to touch and it it showing the slightest bit of an infection sign but my goodness when I try and sleep and it touches that bed....it drives me nuts.

I will try and cut it out first and see how this works, I was trying to avoid this that's all, I was trying to keep a nice free edge shape/length and sort of pull it straight with product (if that makes sense

Now the weather has warmed up here in sunny Qld Australia, I will ditch these shoes that I think have caused this, even though they are not tight around my toes at all but these are the only shoes that when I wear them, my toenail hurts, so it must be these shoes cause the rest of the time when I'm at home and not working, I'm in thongs (I think you guys call them flip flops) so my toe is touching nothing.

I've just had a nice hot shower so I will go clip it now while my nail is soft

 

[BuffyFileSlayer]

Make sure you are not eating your breakfast when reading this ......... when I went to my doctors about my toe nail growing back he said to stop it in-growing do what your mother always told you not to do!! That is to pick your toes every day i.e. gently (I used an orange stick) ease it away from the skin - that way it can't take hold of the wrong postion - euckkkk but it worked!! HTH's lol xx

 

[Wooshka]

Make sure you are not eating your breakfast when reading this ......... when I went to my doctors about my toe nail growing back he said to stop it in-growing do what your mother always told you not to do!! That is to pick your toes every day i.e. gently (I used an orange stick) ease it away from the skin - that way it can't take hold of the wrong postion - euckkkk but it worked!! HTH's lol xx

:lol: Thankfully I don't eat breakfast but I already have a strong stomach cause I'm an ex funeral director, so not much can turn my stomach.

I haven't had a chance to cut it yet (my daughter side tracked me), thanks for this new idea.

 

[Rainbow Bright]

My big toe was growing like you describe in a c shape, and for years I used to be in agony every month trying to dig out the corners, once I had clipped them it was fine until it grew again. Having suffered with it for ages and fed up with the monthly pain I decided to get it seen to. I got referred to the hospital and have had the sides of the nail (just the bits that were causing the problem) removed, they put some stuff on the nail matrix to prevent the nail from growing back in that area. So I still have toe nail but it is narrower than usual. But its now pain free and at least i didnt have to get the whole nail removed (as can sometimes happen if you dont get it seen to). I wish I'd have got it done ages ago!

 

[cro-mari]

1. Yes, I've done gel and LP overlays on big toes, including my own, and it helped - nails would grow straight out, because overlay keeps it from curling down into the flesh. Also keeps people from picking the toes :wink2:

2. Cutting corners - ouch. Yes, it may bring some ease at first, but eventually, you'll have to do it all the time and may end up picking it, or even get yourself an infection. Podiatrist can also cut the corners out, but then you can also find yourself addicted to going to them every 3 - 4 weeks, and that costs.

For mild cases of ingrown toenail, it is best to let the nail grow out of that critical point where it curles into the flesh. And then cut the nail always straight from one side to another, or better yet, just file it like you would on your hands. Yes, it may hurt while it grows out, but once it grows, you should be free. That's easier to do in summer, when your toes can be free in sandals or flip flops or something.

And let go of that shoes :green:

Or, if you're still not sure what to do, go to certified podiatrist. hth

 

[cro-mari]

btw, I just see that I wrote podiatrist... english is not my first language so... I think you call those specialists - chiropodists? well, I meant that

 

[Wooshka]

1. Yes, I've done gel and LP overlays on big toes, including my own, and it helped - nails would grow straight out, because overlay keeps it from curling down into the flesh. Also keeps people from picking the toes :wink2:

2. Cutting corners - ouch. Yes, it may bring some ease at first, but eventually, you'll have to do it all the time and may end up picking it, or even get yourself an infection. Podiatrist can also cut the corners out, but then you can also find yourself addicted to going to them every 3 - 4 weeks, and that costs.

For mild cases of ingrown toenail, it is best to let the nail grow out of that critical point where it curles into the flesh. And then cut the nail always straight from one side to another, or better yet, just file it like you would on your hands. Yes, it may hurt while it grows out, but once it grows, you should be free. That's easier to do in summer, when your toes can be free in sandals or flip flops or something.

And let go of that shoes :green:

Or, if you're still not sure what to do, go to certified podiatrist. hth

Thank you
Your english is fine, I can understand exactly what you are saying and here in Australia where I live, we also call them podiatrists

That is the one thing I do do, is cut my nail straight across then I file the remainder.
I have heard that if you cut a V into the middle of the nail it encourages it to grow together and the ingrown nail grows out but I did some research into it late last night and found it is not effective apparently.

What I have decided to do is, cut it out the best I can without hacking away at my nail and then I will apply a clear L & P overlay and maintain this for a while and see if it helps to pull the nail straight again as it grows.
Of course not wear the shoes anymore that I feel caused it and then hopefully in a couple of months, it will all be ok.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, they helped me make up my mind as to what I think is best for my nail.
:hug:

 

[BexiJane]

Just seen this thread and was going to suggest cutting a 'v in the nail. It was something my mum did when I was little with an ingrown nail and it did really work. Just cut a tiny V right in the centre of the free edge,then push a small amount of cotton wool under the corner where it's ingrown and it seems to work. Worked for me back then and not had a problem since! Hth xxxx

 

[Shazzer]

Hi ! My little boy has suffered from in growen toenails since he was born he is now 3 and theyr finally gone! I cut the corners and did cuticle work on him once a week !! He loves getting his cuticles done now!! I would try it this way rather than using an orange stick ! X

 

[abicrunch]

HI
I have also heard many times about ingrown toenails and how you can get them to grow straight with acrylic on them. This is because when you apply acrylic it makes the nail thicker, try and do it a bit thicker than normal. This means the nail will have to grow outwards straight down rather than into the side. Firstly I would cut the bit that is ingrown as this would keep growing and cause an infection under the acrylic, Then apply the acrylic and keep an eye on it and see if it works. It might take a few goes but its got to be worth a try. Rather that then having your toenail cut away, and you can still have pretty toes. HTH. Ax