Ingrown fingernail
Discussion
Due to me biting my nails, I've managed to get a ingrown fingernail and its now infected 
.
Slightest touch and it really hurts. Seems a bit OTT to go to the doctors just yet.
So, does anyone have any ideas? I've been putting some antiseptic cream on it during the day with a plaster, mainly so I don't knock it.
Any help would be great! Also, while I'm here...any tips not to bite my nails wouldn't go a miss!
.Slightest touch and it really hurts. Seems a bit OTT to go to the doctors just yet.
So, does anyone have any ideas? I've been putting some antiseptic cream on it during the day with a plaster, mainly so I don't knock it.
Any help would be great! Also, while I'm here...any tips not to bite my nails wouldn't go a miss!
If it's properly full of pus it's called paronychia and certainly justifies going to a doctor - they bloody hurt!
Soak in salty water, as hot as you can stand for a few minutes at a time. Chances are as the skin softens it'll 'rupture' (eg pop) on its own, especially if the collection of pus is right up against the edge of the nail.
Keep an eye out for any red streaks heading up the finger or across the hand, if so that's a sign that the infection's really getting going and means that you then need to go and see a doctor fairly urgently (eg straight to walk-in centre).
Soak in salty water, as hot as you can stand for a few minutes at a time. Chances are as the skin softens it'll 'rupture' (eg pop) on its own, especially if the collection of pus is right up against the edge of the nail.
Keep an eye out for any red streaks heading up the finger or across the hand, if so that's a sign that the infection's really getting going and means that you then need to go and see a doctor fairly urgently (eg straight to walk-in centre).
with regards the salty water, it needs to be a hypertonic solution, so make sure there is salt laying in the bottom of your bowl, this means the solution is saturated and strong enough. This helps "suck" the pus out. The water needs to be warm but don't burn yourself!!
Oh and in future don't but your fingers in your mouth - it's more difficult to bite your nails then
Oh and in future don't but your fingers in your mouth - it's more difficult to bite your nails then
I trapped my little finger in the loft hatch a couple of years ago and it ended up in a simialr state. Hurt like an absolute swine and was not getting better on it's own. Basically whats happening is there will be a small spike of nail growing into the flesh of your digit.
I fortunately have access to local anaesthetic and sterile instruments so removed the entire nail in a home surgery session while my wife watched in disgust. Good fun that. It has grown back entirely normally.
I would go see your GP and ask for the nail removing (without ablation, you want it to grow back).
I fortunately have access to local anaesthetic and sterile instruments so removed the entire nail in a home surgery session while my wife watched in disgust. Good fun that. It has grown back entirely normally.
I would go see your GP and ask for the nail removing (without ablation, you want it to grow back).
I used to have ingrowing toenails becuase I would cut them too short. Went on for years on and off.
Eventually got fed up with dicking around with sokaing in TCP etc... and decided to cut the offending edges off the two nails using a stanley knife and pliers.
The stanley knife to slice a nice straight edge completely through the nail about a quarter inch in from the offending edges, then the pliers to yank the whole edge out in one lump right down to the root of the nail to stop it coming back.
Bit bloody, but sorted!!
Eventually got fed up with dicking around with sokaing in TCP etc... and decided to cut the offending edges off the two nails using a stanley knife and pliers.
The stanley knife to slice a nice straight edge completely through the nail about a quarter inch in from the offending edges, then the pliers to yank the whole edge out in one lump right down to the root of the nail to stop it coming back.
Bit bloody, but sorted!!
BlackVanDyke said:
If it's properly full of pus it's called paronychia and certainly justifies going to a doctor - they bloody hurt!
Soak in salty water, as hot as you can stand for a few minutes at a time. Chances are as the skin softens it'll 'rupture' (eg pop) on its own, especially if the collection of pus is right up against the edge of the nail.
Keep an eye out for any red streaks heading up the finger or across the hand, if so that's a sign that the infection's really getting going and means that you then need to go and see a doctor fairly urgently (eg straight to walk-in centre).
Cheers! I soaked it in salty water last night for about 30 minutes, and its not as bad this morning, I can at least type with it without wanting to cry! Soak in salty water, as hot as you can stand for a few minutes at a time. Chances are as the skin softens it'll 'rupture' (eg pop) on its own, especially if the collection of pus is right up against the edge of the nail.
Keep an eye out for any red streaks heading up the finger or across the hand, if so that's a sign that the infection's really getting going and means that you then need to go and see a doctor fairly urgently (eg straight to walk-in centre).
I'll continue this over the weekend and if its not healed/any better on Monday I'll take a trip to the doctors I think.
The remedies should work fairly well on a finger - but for a toe which is in a sweaty sock it's quite difficult.
I used to press the pus bit up against the sharp spur of the nail to burst it, and then wash it out with salty water. In the end the nail spur got long enough to get a compass (the thing you used in school to draw circles) under it, and then I was able to cut it and the edge of the nail off of the main nail, and rip the leftovers out with tweezers. It was quite painful.
Failing that get an appointment at the GP. If it's a big practice they might have a nurse on site who can fix it, otherwise it's off to the clinic.
I used to press the pus bit up against the sharp spur of the nail to burst it, and then wash it out with salty water. In the end the nail spur got long enough to get a compass (the thing you used in school to draw circles) under it, and then I was able to cut it and the edge of the nail off of the main nail, and rip the leftovers out with tweezers. It was quite painful.
Failing that get an appointment at the GP. If it's a big practice they might have a nurse on site who can fix it, otherwise it's off to the clinic.
davepoth said:
The remedies should work fairly well on a finger - but for a toe which is in a sweaty sock it's quite difficult.
I used to press the pus bit up against the sharp spur of the nail to burst it, and then wash it out with salty water. In the end the nail spur got long enough to get a compass (the thing you used in school to draw circles) under it, and then I was able to cut it and the edge of the nail off of the main nail, and rip the leftovers out with tweezers. It was quite painful.
Failing that get an appointment at the GP. If it's a big practice they might have a nurse on site who can fix it, otherwise it's off to the clinic.
Strangely my toe nail was easier to sort out than my fingernail, didn't hurt as much! Finger the slightest touch made me cry! Toe nail I managed to get it sorted with a pair of nail clippers and some tweezers. I used to press the pus bit up against the sharp spur of the nail to burst it, and then wash it out with salty water. In the end the nail spur got long enough to get a compass (the thing you used in school to draw circles) under it, and then I was able to cut it and the edge of the nail off of the main nail, and rip the leftovers out with tweezers. It was quite painful.
Failing that get an appointment at the GP. If it's a big practice they might have a nurse on site who can fix it, otherwise it's off to the clinic.
spikeyhead said:
Either a dremel or an axe, depending on your manliness quotient, however as this is PH, a pertol powered chainsaw and a light touch to the offending area should permenantly remove the pus.
PS, IANAD
OK, next question...how do I stop the bleeding from cutting my finger off?PS, IANAD
Ki3r said:
spikeyhead said:
Either a dremel or an axe, depending on your manliness quotient, however as this is PH, a pertol powered chainsaw and a light touch to the offending area should permenantly remove the pus.
PS, IANAD
OK, next question...how do I stop the bleeding from cutting my finger off?PS, IANAD
to kiss it better.
K77 CTR said:
Soak for 15 mins in warm salty water, dry and then apply magnesium sulphate paste (from tesco/pharmacy) and dress with a plaster, repeat morning and evening.
This. And if you catch sight of the little spike of nail (spur?) yank it out - probably not good for you at all and will hurt like a smacked fanny, but the relief when it is out is immeasurable. Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff