Wear open-toed or loose-fitting shoes for about two weeks after surgery. This gives your toe room to heal. After 24 hours, your toe can be kept clean by running warm soapy water over it and patting it dry. Keep it covered until fully healed with a nonstick dressing.

The morning following the procedure, remove the dressing and soak your toe in plain warm water for 20-30 minutes; dry the toe afterwards, then apply a small amount of zinc oxide ointment and a bandage. Continue to wear a bandage and zinc oxide as long as there is any soreness or drainage from the toe.

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR POST-OPERATIVE CARE FOR INGROWN TOENAILS Keep your foot elevated for 4-6 hours as needed after you get home. Begin soaking your foot in cool or lukewarm water with 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salts twice daily, beginning 6 to 8 hours after the procedure. Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

A person can help speed their recovery after ingrown toenail surgery by: soaking the foot in warm water or Epsom salts every day taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to help with pain and swelling applying an antibiotic ointment twice daily or as often as a doctor recommends, if there is an infection