How To Treat Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail is when your toenail grows into the skin next to the nail. It can become infected and inflamed, which can be painful and sore and can lead to a serious bacterial infection if not treated properly. See below for tips on how to treat ingrown toenails.

Treatment Of Ingrown Toenails

1. Soak Your Foot

Soak your foot in a warm bath for at least 15 minutes to soften the skin folds around the infected toe. You can add 1/4 cup of Epsom salt to the bathwater to help reduce swelling and to reduce the amount of toxins in the infected area.

2. Apply Tea Tree Oil

After your bath soak, apply tea tree oil to the infected area. The tea tree oil will help to eliminate any infection in your toe and helps inhibit any fungal growth. Simply wash the area and then apply the tea tree oil. 

3. Add Cotton

To help keep the nail from growing into your skin, you can add a small amount of natural cotton beneath the nail. Simply lift the nail gently and add the cotton. You can use clean tweezers to help with this task. This will also help keep the nail off of the skin and provide comfort. Add new cotton daily until completely healed to help prevent the area from becoming infected again.

4. Trim Nails

Trim your toenail by clipping the nail straight across, rather than at an angle.

Causes Of Ingrown Toenails

There are a number of things that can cause ingrown toenails.

• Improperly fitting shoes. When shoes are too tight, it causes the toes to push together and can result in curling toenails.
• Improper nail trimming. You should be trimming your nails straight across, not at an angle, not too short, and you shouldn't dig into the sides of your toenails.
• Injured toe. If you've stubbed your toe or dropped something on your toe, you could have caused damage to your toenail - resulting in an ingrown toenail.
• Sporting activities. Sports such as soccer, ballet and running can all cause ingrown toenails. These sports can be tough on your feet and toes, so you need to take care of your feet properly.
• Poor hygiene. Poor hygiene can lead to ingrown toenails. Be sure you change your socks often, especially if you sweat a lot. Ingrown toenails will grow more often in warm, moist conditions.

Ingrown toenails can be very painful and dangerous if not treated properly. For more information, contact Lincoln Park Podiatry or a similar location.