Ingrown toenails are a painful and annoying ailment. When a nail penetrates the soft tissue that surrounds it and the skin begins to grow on it instead of underneath, it is called an ingrown toenail. It usually affects the big toe, but the other toes are also not immune to it. In addition to causing pain, ingrown toenails become infected quickly. If you find that you have an ingrown toenail that has become infected, you need to learn how to treat it properly. This way you prevent the situation from getting worse. By following the right steps, your foot will heal and be back to full efficiency in no time.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Take Care of the Nail
Step 1. Soak your foot
To reduce the pain and swelling caused by an ingrown toenail, soak the foot (or even just the toe) for 10-15 minutes in hot water three times a day for one to two weeks.
- Epsom salts reduce pain and inflammation. Fill the bathtub with hot water, add 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and put your foot in it. In the meantime, try to relax. Finally dry carefully
- You can do this wash several times a day if the pain is too much to bear.
- Never use too hot water, but always only lukewarm water.
Step 2. Lift the edge of the nail
To relieve some of the pressure caused by the edge of the ingrown toenail, doctors sometimes suggest lifting it slightly. To proceed, just slip a small piece of cotton wool or dental floss under the edge of the nail. This will remove it from the skin and prevent it from penetrating deeply into the flesh.
- If you have decided to use cotton wool, you can soak it in an antiseptic solution to relieve pain and prevent infections under the nail.
- If the nail is infected, it is worth absorbing any moisture that is trapped under it.
- If you have decided to use dental floss, make sure it is not waxed and flavored.
- Do not insert any metal tools under the nail, stick to cotton wool or dental floss, otherwise you could make the damage worse.
Step 3. Apply antibacterial cream
This is a very useful product for treating an infected nail. Before spreading it, dry your toe completely. Cover the injured area with the ointment leaving a thick layer. Wrap your finger in a bandage, a large patch is fine too. This precaution prevents dirt from entering the wound and keeps the ointment in contact with the skin.
Use a bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B antibiotic cream
Step 4. See a podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in foot health)
Ingrown toenails that become infected shouldn't be treated at home, as well as most infected wounds. Go to a podiatrist for proper care and therapy. If the infection is severe and the nail is in a bad state, even a minor surgery may be needed. However, in most cases, the procedure involves local anesthesia and deep dressing by the doctor.
You may be prescribed oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) to eradicate the infection
Part 2 of 2: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Do not cut the infected nail
A very common mistake is to cut the infected nail. Contrary to what most people believe, this operation only makes the situation worse and leads to relapses. Leave the nail as it is and lift it only to relieve the pressure.
The nail could be cut by the doctor, but not at home with a "do it yourself" surgery
Step 2. Don't dig under the nail
Do not try to reduce the pressure by lifting the nail after digging into the skin. This would only cause you more pain and make the infection worse.
Do not touch the nail with tweezers, orange wood sticks, nail clippers or other metal objects
Step 3. Don't try to drain the infection
Many people believe that it is necessary to drain the fluid that is inside the bladder or pustule by breaking it with a needle. Don't do this, as the infection will become more severe. Even if you used clean tools and a sterilized needle, you could cause serious damage by stimulating the infected bladder or wound.
Avoid touching your toe with anything other than a cotton ball or bandage
Step 4. Do not make a "V" cut in the nail
Some popular beliefs believe that this treatment relieves the pressure the ingrown nail exerts on the skin and promotes healing. This is absolutely not true and the only result is a jagged edge of the nail.
Step 5. Do not cover your finger with substances
Don't believe the "urban legends" that rubbing coal on your nail will get rid of the infection. Some people are quick to swear by the effectiveness of this method, but there is no evidence that it shows any benefit, either for the infection or the ingrown toenail. In fact, this method only makes things worse. Generally speaking, you shouldn't put anything on your finger other than antibiotic cream or a bandage.
Advice
- Don't keep squeezing pus out of the ingrown toenail or you'll make the infection worse.
- Don't bite your nails. It is an unhealthy habit that damages both nails and teeth.
Warnings
- Foot and nail problems could be symptoms of diabetes.
- People with compromised immune systems should seek medical attention for any persistent infection.
- Infections can become life-threatening if symptoms of septicemia and blood poisoning occur. You may also develop gangrenous infections that cause tissue death and rot. These conditions require hospitalization, surgery, and even amputation of the limbs to stop their spread or tissue death.
- If you are diabetic and have an ingrown toenail, see a podiatrist as soon as possible.
