Approximately 20% of patients who visit their doctor because of foot problems have an ingrown toenail. While they can occur in anyone, they’re most often seen in teenagers and older adults.
Some common reasons include tight shoewear and improper trimming of the nail. Trauma, such as stubbing a toe, can also lead to an ingrown nail.
Fortunately, most cases can be treated at home.
Interested? Looking for some ingrown toenail remedies? If so, you’ve stumbled on the right page—we’ll be sharing some things that you can try below.
Keep reading to learn more about the topic!
1. Soak Your Feet
Soaking the affected foot in warm, soapy water can help reduce swelling and pain. If necessary, you can also add Epsom salts—they may provide additional relief.
Alternatively, you can soak your feet in apple cider vinegar. Not only does it have anti-inflammatory properties, but it has antiseptic and pain-relieving abilities as well.
Simply combine 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with warm water in a basin. For the best results, soak the affected foot for up to 20 minutes a day.
2. Apply an Antibiotic Ointment
An ingrown toenail can become infected if left untreated and that can cause it to become red, painful, and swollen. In some cases, it can also ooze fluid.
Fortunately, you can prevent this by using an antibiotic ointment. More specifically, you want to apply it to the affected toenail up to three times a day.
Don’t forget to bandage the area after application—it’ll help keep the ointment in place and prevent debris from entering the wound.
3. Wear Comfortable Shoes and Socks
Tight-fitting shoes and socks are a leading cause of ingrown toenails. Given that, it’s crucial that you avoid them during the healing process—that’ll prevent it from worsening.
If you can, wear open-toe shoes such as sandals instead; they’ll limit the amount of pressure on your toenails. Avoid shoes that rub on the side of your toe as they can cause the nail to grow further into the skin.
Tip: If needed, you can take an over-the-counter pain-killer for ingrown toenail pain relief.
4. Consider Nail Removal
Depending on the severity, partial or full removal of the toenail may be necessary. A minor outpatient procedure (you can search for a “clinic near me” if you need to see a specialist), the doctor will clean and numb your foot with a local anesthetic before cutting and removing the nail.
In the case of a partial toenail removal, the nail will grow back in about three to four months. It can take longer if your toenail was completely removed (approximately a year).
Different Ingrown Toenail Remedies
And there you have it—four ingrown toenail remedies. As you can see, there are several things that you can try before seeing a doctor. If your ingrown toenail hurts a lot, however, you may want to seek medical attention.
For more posts like this, check out the rest of our health section!
