An ingrown toenail is the part of the nail which grows into the skin instead of growing on the skin. People with big toe generally suffer from this problem, but it can happen to small toe also. It is very important to treat an ingrown toenail as it is very painful and swollen. Sometimes, it also drains pus. People with hard and curved toenail are more likely to suffer from an ingrown toenail. Adults are more prone to this problem rather than children. It is important to treat an ingrown toenail as it can spread infection also.
Symptoms of Ingrown Toenail:
- Pain in the nail and tenderness in the skin around the nail.
- Reddish surrounding area.
- The problem in wearing socks and shoes.
- Swelling in the toe.
Causes of Ingrown Toenails:
- Wearing tight socks and shoes.
- Not trimming toenails or trimming it too short.
- Curved and hard toenail
- High diabetes in the body.
- Any injury in the toe.
Ways to Treat an Ingrown Toenail:
1.) Epsom Salt Water to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenails
Epsom salt helps to cure the inflammation around the toe. The antiseptic nature of salt cures the wound and makes the skin softer. It is important to release the tenderness of the skin around the toe. This helps to remove the ingrown toenail. Try this Epsom foot bath, feel the relief from the pain.
- In a clean tub add some lukewarm water.
- Add two tablespoons of Epsom salt to it.
- Soak your foot in the tub for five minutes.
- Repeat this foot bath twice a day.
- This will help you to get relieved from the soreness.
2.) Apple Cider Vinegar to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenail
Apple cider vinegar has all the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic elements. These elements are very helpful to treat an ingrown toenail. Appling ACV or eating food containing AVC can help you to kill all the bacteria from your body.
- Take a clean bucket or tub.
- Pour some lukewarm water in it. Water should be that warm that you could bear the warmth of it.
- Add tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
- Put your feet in the water.
- Soak for 20 minutes.
3.) Lemon Juice to Treat an Ingrown Toenail
Lemon is known as an amazing antiseptic and thus, it is a great ingredient to treat an ingrown toenail. Moreover, it is a natural astringent that makes it one of the best home remedies for an ingrown toenail. It works effectively on the swelling and the inflammation. Lemon juice is a great remedy for the toenail fungus and the pale nails too.
- Take a fresh lemon.
- Squeeze out the juice in a bowl.
- Dip a cotton ball in the juice.
- Apply the lemon juice on the toe with the help of cotton ball.
- Leave the juice overnight.
- Rinse off your toe next morning.
- If using this remedy in daytime, make sure that you cover your toe after applying the lemon juice to your toe.
- You can also use a thin slice of lemon.
- Keep the slice on the affected area.
- Cover the applied lemon juice by the bandage or a gauze.
4.) Alcohol to Cure an Ingrown Toenail
Alcohol can also be used to treat an ingrown toenail. It helps to reduce the tenderness of the skin and makes it softer. The softer surrounding skin helps you to remove the ingrown toenail. The best part of reducing the tenderness makes you clean your skin properly and maintains the hygiene. It also inhibits the growth of the bacteria.
- When you feel that the pain in the toe, clean it immediately with alcohol.
- Alcohol will fight the infection and bacteria.
- Apply alcohol with cotton to the affected area and leave it overnight.
- Wash your toe next morning with lukewarm water.
5.) Hydrogen Peroxide to Treat an Ingrown Toenail
Hydrogen peroxide fights against the microorganisms which breed upon the ingrown toenail. It is a germicidal agent. Peroxide helps to cure the fungus present in the foot and softens the skin also. Reducing the tenderness is important as it makes the plucking out of the ingrown toenail easy. It also works effectively on the burning sensation caused by the treatment of an ingrown toenail. It is an amazing way to treat an ingrown toenail.
- Take a clean bucket or a tub.
- Fill it half with lukewarm water.
- Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide in the water.
- Dip your toe, which is infected in the water.
- Keep your toe in the water for twenty minutes.
- Repeat this process once every day until you get relief.
6.) Camphor to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenails
Camphor is one of the best home remedies to treat an ingrown toenail. It gives relief to the pain, itching, fungus infection and other symptoms of the ingrown toenail.
- Take a bowl.
- Add camphor and coconut or cinnamon oil.
- Make a mixture.
- Apply this on the infected toe.
- Leave it overnight.
- Repeat this process for a week.
7.) Hot Water to Cure Ingrown toenails
Hot water helps to soften the brittle nail and affects the growth of the bacteria. Once you make the nail and skin soft, you can easily trim the nail. Hot water will treat an ingrown toenail.
- Take a clean bucket or a tub.
- Add 1 tablespoon salt.
- Soak your foot in the water.
- Keep your foot soaked for 15 minutes.
- Repeat this process twice a day until you get desired results.
8.) Antibiotics to Treat an Ingrown toenail
Antibiotics are an instant cure for the pain of an ingrown toenail. This can reduce the infection and will give you relief in pain as well. All the antibiotics are available in the pharmacy easily. It is advised to cover the toe after the application of the ointment. Leaving the ointment applied open, will draw dust and can spread an infection to the toe. This may worsen the condition
- Clean the affected area.
- Apply the ointment.
- Spread it properly.
- Cover it with a bandage or a gauze.
9.) Trim Your Nails to Get Rid of Ingrown toenails
The best way to treat an ingrown toenail is to trim the nail. This process can be painful, but this is the best option. You have to be very careful and gentle while trimming the nail as it can worsen the condition as well. This can even create a problematic condition for you. It is important to keep your nail clean; as the dust accumulated in or near the nails can spread infection. So, trim your nails time to tome. And more importantly keep your foot clean. For this, you can go for a pedicure session or can doi it at as well.
10.) Choose the Correct Shoe to Treat an Ingrown Toenails
If you are going through the pain of an ingrown toenail, then you should choose to wear an open toe footwear. Covered footwear can hurt you. Also, avoid the tight fitted slippers or shoes, they will worsen your condition. This might lead you to get a toe surgery done. And you don’t have to leave your toe open as well, as the dust will spread more bacteria. Cover it by using a bandage or wear socks. It’s better to use a gauze or wear socks rather than drawing dust to your toe. Moreover, wear good quality socks, since inferior quality can worsen the condition.
11.) Moisturize to Cure the Ingrown Toenails
Chapped and dry skin allow the fungus and infection to breed upon a toe. It is important to apply a lot of moisturizers to keep the dryness away from your toe. Keeping it fully moisturized is very important. Petroleum jelly works the best to keep the toe fully moisturized in a proper way. This jelly also heals the foot problems and also keeps it moisturized. It is important to treat an ingrown toenail. And after application of the moisturizer, do not forget to cover the infected toe. You can also apply the jelly after taking a shower to treat an ingrown toenail.
12.) Place a Wick to Treat an Ingrown Toenail
It is one of the best home remedies. By rolling a wick under the ingrown toenail or by placing it under the nail, will force the nail to grow outwards. It will not grow into the skin of the toe. You can use a cotton bud or cotton to place it under the ingrown toenail. Do not forget to change the cotton regularly as it can spread infection. This process will help you treat an ingrown toenail.
