*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature P: Personality Disorders.

Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is a common problem where the nail grows into the toe. It can be painful, but there are things you can do to ease the pain.

Check if you have an ingrown toenail

You usually get an ingrown toenail on your big toe. But you can get them on any toe.

Your toe can also get infected.

Signs of an infected toe include:

If you go to a GP with an ingrown toenail, they'll usually suggest you try these things first.

soak your foot in warm, salty water to help soften the skin around your toe and reduce the chances of infection
keep your foot dry for the rest of the day
wear wide, comfortable shoes or sandals
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

treating your ingrown toenail at home is not helping
your toe is painful and swollen with pus coming out of it
you have a very high temperature or you feel hot or shivery
you have diabetes and an ingrown toenail - foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

A GP can:

If you have a badly ingrown toenail, they may refer you to a foot specialist (podiatrist).

A podiatrist may offer further treatments, such as:

You'll have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb your toe when this is done.

Referral to a podiatrist on the NHS may not be available to everyone and waiting times can be long. You can pay to see a podiatrist privately.

If you have an ingrown toenail, you might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

To help stop ingrown toenails:

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature P: Personality Disorders. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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