[Guest]

I had a ingrown toenail many years ago on my right foot (big toe). It's part of family history I guess. It (thank God) got better after a couple of years of dealing it a few times going to doctor having part of nail removed. So I'm very familiar symptoms. My question/concern is one evening trimming my toe nails (being through an ingrown toenail situation) I trimmed my left big toe nail to short, on inside. I've ALWAYS trimmed m straight across knowing I went through bee. My toe now does not seem to be infected, it is a little swollen, a touch red. Not really sore like I remember it years ago. I have been putting Mercurochrome on my toe to hopefully prevent any king of infection. Years ago when I had my problems bee, I learned tricks from doctors family members. doctor said at one time to put a notch in middle of r toenail so nail basically is focusing on growing inwards towards middle of nail not going into flesh of toe. or from my Aunt, she suggested using a nailfile (a metal one) run it along whole side of toe to help nail grow straight. Believe it or not helped my first toe problem. I do now is take same nailfile I put it under nail along side by doing I can't see where it's possiably growing in. Does nail grow into to toe (fleshy part) even though nail elf (top left corner) is not embedded into toe. I've read quite a few things tonight on web reg. ingrown toenails. I don't see where it's growing in. My shoes a factor, I plan on changing. Please answer me, because I don't want to go through I did years ago. Thank . Julie

[Guest]

The fact that you always get ingrown toe nails, as I am sure you know, can be very painful. Although the tip of the nail is not ingrown, the sides can still be ingrown. Notching the middle of the nail will not prevent the ingrown nails. The other treatment you use with the metal nail file can help, but it may do more harm than good. If the nail is growing into your skin and you pry it out with the file, you can easily cause and infection because the file is not sterile and probably has many organisms like bacteria and fungus on it. Therefore, although it may give occasional relief, it is not your best option. Since you have always had these ingrown toe nails since you were young, ask your doctor to take an x-ray of your toes to see if any bones are unusually large and causing your nails to become ingrown. This can be a common cause in people who get ingrown toe nails recurrently since they are young. If this is the case, the bones can be shaved down slightly with minimal surgery and prevent the nails from ingrowing in the future. If it is not a problem with your bone shape, you may opt for one quick, permanent procedure. Rather than just having your nail removed, the nail bed on the edges of the nail can be killed so the nail does not grow too close in the future. This is a permanent procedure that makes your nail a little less wide so you do not have to worry about this ever again. You may want to have this done to your two big toes. For your smaller toes, you could have this done to them but I would only suggest having it done to ones that commonly ingrow. Furthermore, make sure you cut your nails straight across and leave a little length to them. The fact that you cut your skin while trimming your nails means you are cutting them too close.