What are the symptoms like an ingrown toenail?

Big toenail won't grow? Ingrown nail?

• It hurts when I put pressure on it. It's red and puffy-ish. It doesn't look that bad. I searched the web and it said this was a ingrown toenail. When I searched it, it said it was an in grown nail, I was like, ok I guess I have an ingrown nail, What is an ingrown nail? Is it bad? Both big toes are like this. It also said it's caused by tight shoes. My toenail problem started not to long ago, but I also started wearing my Converse more frequent, so I am guesses what the problem is. I put Triple antibiotic Ointment + Pain Relief. also my other toenails are growing, and the toenail polish I had on chipped off but some of the toenail polish is still on, so I'm thinking that could be also the problem. My toenail color is the same. What do I do? I'm kind of scared. I'm 13.

• Answer:

  I've had a milder case of this problem before. All that an ingrown nail is is when the nail begins to curl under itself, going back into the skin. What I've done is carefully pull it out, and just clip it off. It may hurt, and it may bleed a bit, but if you just hold a clean cloth or paper towel on it, you should be fine. Depending on how far it's gone, you may want to work in intervals; pulling a little bit, cleaning, waiting, repeat. Just don't clip too far, or clip before you pull it out. If you have a mani/pedi set, find the tool you use to dig dirt from under your nails, sterilize it (EMPHASIS ON THIS), and use that to pull it out. And to prevent further problems, just keep your toenails short. Also, if you get a piece of skin attached to it that comes out from the side of the nail, that connects it to the skin, that is the quick. It will bleed, but it grows back quickly. Once you've removed the ingrown nail, just keep a bandage on it, so that sock fuzz won't get in the space the nail was. It may be gross, it may hurt, but a short time of higher pain and a bit of blood is favorable to prolonged pain and a puffy toe, yes?