Ingrown toenails result in discomfort, erythema, and edema. Both natural treatments and professional care can ease symptoms and stop further infections.
For those who wear shoes that are excessively tight or prevent their feet from breathing, ingrown toenails are a common issue.
An ingrown toenail affects about 20% of people at some point in their lives.
Pain and toe swelling are two signs of an ingrown toenail. The nail may occasionally get infected.
Ingrown toenails can be treated in a variety of ways, from at-home cures to surgery. Most of the time, home remedies or over-the-counter medications can be used to cure an ingrown toenail. However, you might need to contact a doctor for treatment if the nail is infected or causing excruciating pain.
What leads in toenail ingrowth?
When your toenail's corner or edge curls and grows into the nearby skin, you have an ingrown toenail. Pain, redness, and swelling could result from this. Both men and women suffer from the illness rather frequently. The most probable toe to be impacted is your big toe.
Ingrown toenails can result from the following:
- Injury to the toenails, such as stubbed toes,
- Wearing too-tight shoes,
- Injury to the toenails, such as stubbed toes,
- Improper foot care
- Excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis)
- A few medicines, like inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor
Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as they appear to avoid infection. Mild conditions might only need a little home care. Surgery may be required in severe situations.
The following remedies can assist in easing discomfort and accelerating the healing of an ingrown toenail.
- Soak in warm water with soap
Soaking the hurt foot could help with pain relief and edema reduction. For up to 20 minutes at a time, you can bathe your foot in warm, soapy water. Another choice is castile soap. Epsom salts in the water could provide additional comfort.
- Use apple cider vinegar to soak
These days, ingrown toenails are one of the many ailments for which apple cider vinegar is used as a folk treatment. Although there is little scientific proof, it is thought to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties.
Prepare a basin with warm water and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to test this cure. Each day, soak the troubled foot for up to 20 minutes. After soaking, properly dry your foot.
- Cover the area with cotton or dental floss
To promote healthy nail growth, some experts advise placing tiny pieces of cotton or waxed dental floss beneath the edge of an ingrown toenail. Not all medical associations concur.
- Use an antiseptic cream.
Antiseptic cream or ointment purchased without a prescription can aid in healing and lower the risk of infection. As directed by the manufacturer, apply the ointment to the troublesome toenail up to three times each day.
These ointments may consist of:
Mupirocin, Bacitracin/Polymyxin B (Polysporin), and Neomycin (Neosporin) (Bactroban)
After application, be sure to bandage the toenail.
- Wear comfortable DrLuigi medical footwear and right socks
Your toes may be crowded by shoes and socks that are excessively tight. Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper footwear. Wear shoes and socks or hosiery that fit comfortably while still leaving enough room in the toe bed to avoid an ingrown toenail from forming or getting worse. Avoid wearing shoes or sandals as much as you can during the healing period to lessen pressure on your toenails.
- Take into account nail removal
Partial or complete nail removal may be required if home cures for an ingrown toenail are unsuccessful. A doctor might cut away a portion of the central growth plate, the nail bed underneath, or the nail border using local anesthesia.
The doctor may advise removing the entire ingrown nail in severe, recurrent occurrences. This is a desperate measure that could be uncomfortable and raise your risk of infection. Additionally, it raises the possibility of a misshaped toenail as it regrows.