How to Cure Ingrown Toenail

If the sides of the toenail are red, swollen and inflamed, chances are high that you have an ingrown toenail problem (onychocryptosis ). In such a case, the toenail penetrates and digs inside the skin of the toe, which overtime causes discomfort and pain. The corners of the affected toenail feels tender to touch and later turns reddish and sore. If not removed or, if left untreated, an ingrown toenail is usually followed by increased tenderness and infection.

In case of ingrown toenail infections, manifested symptoms include bleeding, pus accumulation, unusual discharge and a foul smell. But, with proper hygiene and toenail grooming tips, mild ingrown toenail conditions can be cured at home, without therapeutic intervention. Let's take a look at the risk factors, symptoms and tips on how to cure ingrown toenail.

What Causes Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail is caused due to improper cutting of the toenails. While trimming our toenails, we tend to taper gradually or cut short in the corners, so that the nail shape matches that of the toe. This is probably the most common reason for an ingrown nail condition. In some cases, an ingrown toenail is developed due to wearing of very tight, unfitting shoes for an extant duration. And, the risk factors for an ingrown toenail are very big toenails (that do not match the toe size) and accidental trauma that pushes the toenail inside the skin.

How to Cure Ingrown Toenail

Though all the toes can develop this painful nail disease, the big toenail is the most affected one. An ingrown toenail may not be very serious, but timely curing will help prevent worsening and onset of complications. Natural cures for ingrown toenail are effective, if followed early, prior to infection. Following are some of the tips for ingrown toenail natural cure, which you can practice at home:

Soak in Hot Water: An effective cure for ingrown toenail is loosening the affected toenails by soaking them in hot water (not very hot) for a few minutes. Gently separate the skin from the attached toenail and using a sharp pair of scissors, trim the corner of the nail to its original shape. After this, follow correct nail grooming tips to hasten the healing period. Read more on ingrown toenail removal.

Soak in Saline Water: One of the popular ingrown toenail cures is soaking the affected foot in warm saline water. For doing so, add a tablespoon of Epsom salt in the warm water and allow it to dissolve completely. Soak the affected foot in the saline water for about 10-15 minutes to get relief from the pain and help treat the ingrown toenail.

Keep Area Dry: In order to minimize the risk of ingrown toenail infections, it is of utmost importance to keep the area dry. Hence, after soaking your foot in warm water or saline water, do not forget to wipe the affected area dry with an absorbent towel. Also, ensure that you wear comfortable, open sandals to minimize sweating.

Massage the Affected Area: Tips for natural ingrown toenail cure also include massaging the affected area, adjacent to the ingrown toenail for a few minutes everyday. This stimulates blood circulation, which aid in treating this toenail disease. For massaging, you can use an essential oil that has antiseptic property to cure ingrown toenails.

Prescription Antibiotics: If you suspect any signs of infection, advocating antibiotics (under medical supervision) will help in preventing exacerbation of the ingrown toenail infection. Make sure that you complete the antibiotic course, which otherwise may lead to recurrent infections.

For a chronic case of ingrown toenail associated with signs of infection, the problem is best treated by an experienced podiatrist. If necessary, the doctor may consider an ingrown toenail surgery for ingrown toenail removal. Coming to the precaution measures, cutting the toenail straight (without curving at the corners), correct nail care and avoiding very tight shoes are effective ways to prevent an ingrown toenail condition.