Podiatry Department
Following nail surgery, you will manage your own dressings at home.
Your wound will continue to discharge for several weeks and will appear red due to a chemical burn. This is perfectly normal and must not be confused with infection. To help avoid infection, it is important that dressings are changed regularly.
What you will need
Available to purchase online and in stores
- Low adherent sterile dressing pads: 5cm x 5cm
- Tubular Bandage: Size 12
- Surgical Tape: 5cm wide
- Non woven island dressing: 6cm x 8.3 cm (or similar size)




How to change your dressing
Firstly, wash your hands!

Gently remove your old dressing trying to not disturb the wound. If the dressing has stuck, bathe the foot in warm water until the dressing can be removed easily. We do not advise you to have a bath during the healing process. You are however, able to take showers. Keep shampoo, soap, etc to a minimum and do not directly apply soap to the wound.
Do not dry the wound with a towel. Sit with your foot elevated and allow the toe to air dry. Once dry, redress as shown below. Initially dressings are changed every other day.
The tubular dressing should be 2 ½ times the length of the toe and making the edges of the tape round will help it will stick better.
- Open the pad dressing. The shiny side of the pad needs to touch the wound.
- This film is to help stop the dressing sticking.
- Only touch the edges of the pad and not the centre.
- Use your fingers to apply the tubular dressing.

- Pull the tubular dressing down over the toe while holding the pad.
- Twist a full turn at the top to close the end and then pull down over the toe.
- Pull the sides of the tape to remove the backing easily. Make sure the tape has stuck.
- Once the wound has reduced in the amount that it weeps, you will be able to use a thinner island dressing.
- This dressing can be changed every 1 to 2 days as shown below.

- Place over the wound, press down the sides, press down the top and fold in each side as shown.
Advice on activities
- During healing, your normal day to day activities should not be affected.
- Activities where the wound will get traumatised (running, football, ballet) are best avoided until healing has occurred.
- You must wait until the toe is healed before swimming.
- Make sure your footwear is suitable and not causing pressure on the wound. This will delay healing and increase the risk of infection.
How long will I need to redress the toe?
Your wound will take on average about 6 to 12 weeks to heal. This will vary considerably from one individual to another due to age, smoking and general health.
Important
It is important to keep the wound dressed until complete healing has occurred. This is usually following 2 to 3 dry dressings changes in a row.
What if I have a problem?
After surgery it is possible to have discomfort and we would advise the use of pain relief medication. If the pain is not settling or has increased it could be an indication of infection.
Other indications of an infection could be heat, swelling, redness, bad smell or high levels of discharge. If you suspect an infection, you need to consult with your GP surgery as a prescription may be required.
Contact us
If you require further information please contact us on:
Podiatry Department
One Life, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3QY
Telephone: 01642 944746
Email: [email protected]
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