# Why No Ingrown Fingernails? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076 "2005-11-28T17:26:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/21 "2005-11-29T16:21:20Z")
**QtM** , that’s why I understood. My nails curve upwards/outwards, they aren’t flat. (I’m under the impression that most people have fingernails that are pretty well flat.) I was born with them this way. They look a lot like the nails in the first picture of [this](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nails/WO00055&slide=1) slideshow. If I’m not careful in my grooming, the edges will curl and begin to grow into my skin. I’ve noticed this, and had to pull the skin back and take steps to get the nail to grow correctly. I’ve never had an infection with my fingernails, because I’ve been careful. I have had minor infections with my toenails, but I managed to home treat them and get the nails growing normally again. My mom has had badly ingrown toenails though, and had to have surgery for them. I’ve been very careful with how I trim my toenails (straight across, making sure there are no points to dig in at the corners) and haven’t had a problem since. I’m careful to get shoes that fit properly too. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/22 "2005-11-29T17:43:51Z")
My brother had a bad case of an ingrown toenail on one big toe. One day he decided to…euuuugh…cut it out. With _scissors._\* Got infected, of course. He went to the doc to have the infection treated. When he told her what he’d done, he said she looked at him in shock and exclaimed, “That’s major surgery!” …well, there’s my brother for ya. \*don’t do this. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/23 "2005-11-29T17:45:43Z")
BTW. Forgot to add. Not the little wee nail scissors. He used the big ass utility scissors like the kind you’d use in the kitchen. I promise to buy you lunch if you vomit yours up. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/24 "2005-11-29T18:16:11Z")
I can no longer reach my toes to cut my toenails (damned arthritis), so I go to the shop where the lady cuts my nails, but she doesn’t do it correctly. She cuts them close and round instead of not so close and straight across. I think I need to find another shop to do that because I am diabetic and don’t need any foot problems. So far, I haven’t had ingrown nails, but I can see them coming in the future if I continue to have them cut wrong. I try to tell her, but my Spanish is limited and I think she doesn’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![poeticyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@poeticyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poeticyde)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/25 "2005-11-29T18:56:58Z")
I’ve had one ingrown toenail, which decided to get infected and nasty while I was on a weeklong camping trip/medieval event in Mississippi. After the on-site first aid folks said they could do nothing, I decided that I would take care of the problem myself. I boiled up a pot of water, and dropped my leatherman into it for 5 minutes, and then cut the sucker out myself. Hurt like hell, lemme tell ya, but I washed it real good, then smeared it up with antibacterial goo from the first aid station and wrapped it up with clean gauze. Two days later, felt good as new, and I was back on the field. I am, of course, an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/26 "2005-11-29T20:48:39Z")
> [@robcaro](#): > > I can no longer reach my toes to cut my toenails (damned arthritis), so I go to the shop where the lady cuts my nails, but she doesn’t do it correctly. She cuts them close and round instead of not so close and straight across. I think I need to find another shop to do that because I am diabetic and don’t need any foot problems. So far, I haven’t had ingrown nails, but I can see them coming in the future if I continue to have them cut wrong. I try to tell her, but my Spanish is limited and I think she doesn’t understand. robcaro, you need to talk to your doctor and get recommendations for a nail technician who can treat your feet properly. There’s a big difference between pedicures that are cosmetic and pedicures that are therapeutic. It’ll probably cost more, but your current situation might have dire consequences. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/27 "2005-11-29T21:02:47Z")
**robcaro** , until you can find a nail technician or something, how about giving the lady some information written in Spanish about prevention of ingrown toenails, with relevant parts highlighted? If you print out [this](http://healthgate.partners.org/browsing/browseContent.asp?fileName=23754.xml&title=U%C3%B1a%20del%20Pie%20Encarnada) and highlight the first bullet points under “Causas” and “Prevención”, that should be a fairly easy way to get the point across. An ingrown toenail, by the way, is an uña encarnada. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/28 "2005-11-30T05:55:13Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Not really. Not in the cases where the nail itself is not deformed, which, in my experience, accounts for more than 90% of badly ingrown nails that I see. And I’ve removed _hundreds_ of nails partially or completely to treat acute ingrowing with infections. > > In those types of cases, it is **very** important to properly trim the nail and wear proper fitting shoes to minimize the risk of recurrence. > > Granted, if the nail is deformed, then all that may not help much. And _permanent_ nail removal (which I do seldom) may be desireable. But these are the minority of cases. You are a doctor and I am not. So I have to go with you. I personally have never seen a badly ingrown nail that was not deformed and caused by bone damage underneath. But I am not a doctor. Doctors left me in pain for 18 years the first time because they would not accept the fact that trimming and shoes would not correct my nail. Not one ever suggested I get an X-ray . After 18 years and many different medical professionals, I was told to go see a podiatrist and I did and after one X-ray, it was plain to even me that the nail had to go because of what was underneath. The next toe I damaged, I only went a couple years until the second time I hurt it, after that and an obvious nail going bad I went straight to the podiatrist and he did an X-ray and yepper, time for this one to go also. No years of pain fighting an un-winnable battle with a damaged bone. Since I am not a foot wear model, I was not willing to put up with the pain. “Off with their heads.” Says I. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076/29 "2006-01-01T17:42:42Z")
Medstar and Elfbabe… I have a friend who has a young lady come to her home to cut her nails. She tells me that it is always done correctly, so I am going to try her skills in cutting my toe nails. It is worth a shot. If she does good, then she is my permanent nail cutter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-ingrown-fingernails/333076.md?page=1)