Anatomy & DisordersQuestion 73 of 100
During a pedicure consultation you notice that the side of a client's big toe is swollen, warm and oozing fluid where the nail has grown down into the skin. What must you do?
a.Politely explain that you cannot perform the service and recommend that she see a physician
b.Lift the nail corner with a metal pusher and pack cotton underneath it
c.Cut a V-shaped notch in the center of the nail so the corner will grow out
d.Trim the ingrown corner out with nippers and apply antiseptic
Explanation
Swelling, heat and discharge mean the ingrown toenail is already infected, and servicing infected tissue is prohibited, so you politely decline and recommend a physician or podiatrist. Digging the corner out or packing cotton under the nail means working on living, infected tissue and can push bacteria deeper. Cutting a V-notch does nothing to change how the nail grows, since growth comes only from the matrix, and applying antiseptic to an infection is treatment, which is outside a manicurist's scope.
Law Reference: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Health and Safety Regulations (CCR Title 16)Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A client lost part of her big toenail after dropping something on her foot and wants to know how long it will take for a completely new toenail to replace it. What is the best answer?
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- A regular client sits down and the skin around one fingernail is red, shiny, swollen and painful, with a small amount of pus at the nail fold. What is the correct action?
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- A teenage client is worried about small white spots scattered across several of her fingernails. The nail folds and surrounding skin look completely healthy. What should you do?
- A client has living skin that has grown forward and is stuck tightly to the surface of the nail plate, a condition called pterygium. What is the correct way to handle it?
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