Anyone who has had an ingrown toenail can attest to just how uncomfortable and painful this condition can be, and how badly you want to find out how to fix an ingrown toenail once it develops. And although treatment for an ingrown toenail is relatively simple, you should always make an appointment with your podiatrist so that they can assess your condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment, instead of trying home remedies that can do more harm than good if they are not carried out appropriately.
After your appointment with a podiatrist, they will recommend the treatment that you should follow, and some steps you can carry out at home to heal faster and improve the pain and discomfort you are experiencing. Read below to find out how to fix an ingrown toenail:
Soak your feet: place your feet in lukewarm water with Epsom salts for 20 minutes a few times each day. In the early stages of an ingrown nail, the warm water and salts will help soften the tissues, clear up any debris that has built up under the nail, and ease the pain. If you don’t have Epsom salts, you can use regular table salt, or plain water. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly after each soak, since any moisture will make it easier for a fungal infection to develop.
Massage your feet: after soaking your feet, your skin will be moisturized and more pliable. Very softly, massage your skin away from the nail, to give the nail room to grow away from where it’s becoming ingrown.
Apply an antibiotic ointment: you can apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment to prevent or treat an infected ingrown toenail. Most of these creams also contain anti-inflammatory agents which will reduce the swelling around your toenail.
Wear appropriate shoes: make sure your shoes fit properly, don’t have a narrow toebox, and keep them dry and clean at all times. This will prevent your ingrown toenail from getting worse, and it will relieve the pain.
Keep your nails trimmed: make sure your nails are trimmed straight across, and keep them short, but not so much that you leave a large portion of your toe uncovered by your nail. Trimming your nails this way will stimulate its growth in the right direction.
It is very important point out that you should never place anything under your toenail before consulting with your podiatrist. They will tell you how to fix an ingrown toenail properly, and will carry out any necessary procedures, depending on the severity of your condition. Fixing an ingrown toenail is simple and efficient, but you can make it worse if you attempt inappropriate home remedies.
