An ingrown toenail can be a very painful and truly unpleasant experience! However, there are some things you can do to prevent the nail from growing inside your skin. These things could also help you avoid having to resort to surgery to remove it. Make sure the ingrown toenail is not infected by checking for heat, pus, redness, and swelling. If you notice any of these symptoms of an infection, see a doctor.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Bandage an Ingrown Toenail
Step 1. Consult your doctor or podiatrist first if you have diabetes
If you are a diabetic it is important to keep your feet clean and make sure there are no problems such as having an ingrown toenail. However, your doctor may prefer that you don't try to treat it yourself, for safety reasons. Call your doctor and ask before trying any home remedies.
Step 2. Dip your foot in water and Epsom salts
Water that is too hot will cause the area around the ingrown toenail to swell, so better just keep it warm. Soak it for 15-30 minutes and repeat at least twice a day. The goal is twofold: to soften the nail and prevent it from becoming infected.
Step 3. Get the tools you need
Prepare some cotton, a pair of sterilized tweezers, and something sharp, like a cuticle remover.
Step 4. Keep the nail slightly raised
Using a sterilized tool, stick a small piece of cotton wool between your nail and skin to prevent it from getting into the flesh again.
- If you are using a cotton ball, remove a small piece with tweezers;
- Lift the corner of the ingrown toenail with sterilized tweezers and gently push the cotton underneath. If you want, you can apply an antiseptic ointment, such as Streptosil, to the cotton before pushing it under the nail.
- Do not put anything on if the nail bed looks swollen or red.
- Remove the cotton daily, clean the area, and replace it with clean cotton to reduce the risk of an infection.
Step 5. Let the feet breathe
When you are at home, do not wear socks or shoes.
Step 6. Keep your nail in check
If you keep the cotton in place and take good care of your foot, the ingrown toenail should grow in a couple of weeks.
Replace the cotton every day to prevent the nail from becoming infected. If your nail hurts a lot, change the cotton wool every other day, but check the area daily for signs of infection
Step 7. Reduce pressure and improve drainage
Put a patch under your finger to push the skin away from where the nail penetrates the flesh. It serves to remove the skin from the nail, thus reducing the pressure on the painful area; also, if the patch is placed correctly, it promotes drainage and the wound will dry faster.
Part 2 of 3: Home Remedies Not Scientifically Tested
Step 1. Immerse your foot in cold water treated with a solution of povidone iodine]
Put two teaspoons of povidone iodine in cold water instead of Epsom salts. It is a very effective antiseptic.
Keep in mind that this doesn't fix the ingrown toenail problem, but it does help prevent it from getting infected
Step 2. Apply some lemon juice, some honey and bandage the area overnight
Apply some fresh lemon juice and some honey to your finger. Then, wrap it in gauze and leave the bandage overnight. The effect of honey and lemon can help fight the infection.
Lemon has an antimicrobial effect, but it does not solve the problem of ingrown toenails
Step 3. Use an oil to soften the skin around the nail
The oil helps moisturize and soften the skin, reducing the pressure on the nail when you have to wear shoes. Try the following types of oil for quick relief:
- Tea tree oil: it is an essential oil with antibacterial and antifungal properties with an excellent scent.
- Baby oil - this is also a mineral oil with a good smell; While it doesn't possess the same antibacterial properties as tea tree oil, it works great for softening the skin.
Part 3 of 3: Prevention
Step 1. Keep your nails at a moderate length and remember to cut them straight
With a rounded shape they are more likely to penetrate the flesh, causing problems.
- Use nail clippers or foot scissors. Normal models are too small for toenails and tend to leave sharp edges, especially in the corners.
- Try to trim your toenails at least every 2 to 3 weeks. Unless they grow very quickly, you don't need to cut them more often to prevent them from becoming ingrown.
Step 2. Avoid a pedicure if you have an ingrown toenail
It can aggravate the situation by causing an infection, as pedicure tools are not always perfectly disinfected.
Step 3. Wear the right size shoes
Shoes that are too small compress the nails which could grow ingrown. Choose loose, abundant footwear instead of tight, snug styles.
Try to wear open shoes to avoid pressure on your nails. In any case, the ingrown toenail must be covered, so bandage it or wear socks even with sandals; maybe it is not the ideal solution, but it serves to avoid surgery
Step 4. Be careful if you regularly suffer from ingrown toenails
If you happen to have an ingrown toenail, it will likely happen again, so take steps to prevent it from happening.
Step 5. Apply antibiotic cream to the foot twice a day
Spread it all over your foot, not just your toe, after your morning shower and before bed. Antibiotic cream is used to reduce the risk of infection, which causes further complications and increases pain.
Step 6. Soak your feet in warm soapy water for 45 minutes
Put an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin in the corner of the finger, near the ingrown toenail. Wrap your finger with a plaster to protect the area around the nail.
Advice
- Try to heal the ingrown toenail as soon as possible rather than waiting for something to change, as it will become more and more painful.
- Avoid putting nail polish on ingrown toenails. The chemicals contained in nail polishes could cause infections.
Warnings
- If the ingrown toenail is very swollen and has pus, it is most likely infected. See your doctor for antibiotics before inserting the cotton wool. Antibiotics only cure the infection, they don't fix the problem, so you still have to practice the cotton wool method to grow the nail out of the flesh.
- If the wadding method combined with antibiotics doesn't work, see your doctor or podiatrist, as surgery may be required.
- The toenail tends to get infected when it is ingrown, so do your best to keep it covered and clean so as to avoid serious consequences.
