Fingernails and Toenails

Ingrown Toenails – Sometimes toenails start growing into the skin causing pain and redness. It can be the results of wearing shoes that are too tight or by cutting your toenails too short or not straight across. (I hate it when this happens!) The good news is that you can do some easy things to make it better.

Soak your toe in warm water for at least ten minutes.
Then lift the toenail up from the skin with your fingernail. As an added measure, take a small piece of gauze or a small piece of a cotton ball and put between the toenail and the skin. Leave it there for a few hours and then remove it. (Sometimes I do this a couple of times and then the nail begins to grow normally.)
To help prevent infection, rinse the area with hydrogen peroxide.
If you are diabetic, have other foot issues or injuries, or if there is warmth in the area and redness that is spreading or swelling, it would be wise to call your doctor or seek medical attention.

Smashed or Stubbed Toenails or Fingernails – Have you ever smashed your finger with a hammer or dropped something heavy on your toe, or stubbed your toe? It is no fun!

Exam the appendage and seek medical attention if you have a broken bone or tissue damage.
Blood may begin to pool under the nail and just needs to be monitored as it heals on its own.
In some cases, the blood will start to create pressure and throbbing as it collects under the nail bed. The pressure may be relieved by taking a small needle, sterilized with isopropyl alcohol and poking it into the nail bed which will allow the blood to come out.
To help prevent infection, rinse the area with hydrogen peroxide.
The nail bed will probably turn black and after a few weeks the nail may fall off. This is not unusual and there may be new nail growth.

Fingernails and Toenails

Soak your toe in warm water for at least ten minutes.

To help prevent infection, rinse the area with hydrogen peroxide.

If you are diabetic, have other foot issues or injuries, or if there is warmth in the area and redness that is spreading or swelling, it would be wise to call your doctor or seek medical attention.

Smashed or Stubbed Toenails or Fingernails – Have you ever smashed your finger with a hammer or dropped something heavy on your toe, or stubbed your toe? It is no fun!

Exam the appendage and seek medical attention if you have a broken bone or tissue damage.

Blood may begin to pool under the nail and just needs to be monitored as it heals on its own.

In some cases, the blood will start to create pressure and throbbing as it collects under the nail bed. The pressure may be relieved by taking a small needle, sterilized with isopropyl alcohol and poking it into the nail bed which will allow the blood to come out.

To help prevent infection, rinse the area with hydrogen peroxide.

The nail bed will probably turn black and after a few weeks the nail may fall off. This is not unusual and there may be new nail growth.