5 Ways to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail, for those who haven’t experienced it, is when your toenail grows into the fleshy part of your toe, instead of growing how it should. If you have ever had an ingrown toenail, you can attest to how painful this condition can be, meaning you will want some relief and fast. Ingrown toenails most often occur in the big toe and affect curved or thick nails. Also, if you have a vascular disease or are diabetic, dealing with this condition can be even more difficult.

Five Tips on How to Remedy Ingrown Toenails

1. Prevent it From Happening: The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is certainly true in this case. The best way to “treat” an ingrown toenail is to prevent it from happening. To prevent an ingrown toenail from occurring or from coming back again after you treated them, don’t cut your toenails unevenly in the corners. Also, avoid cutting them too short. In addition, it’s important you make sure your shoes aren’t too tight and avoid trauma in the area as much as possible.
2. Epson Salt Soak: Even if you don’t currently have an ingrown toenail, a good foot soak can feel heavenly. However, when you add Epsom salt to the mix, this can be a great way to treat an ingrown toenail.  To use this method, soak your foot in Epsom salt and warm water for 15-20 minutes. Do this at least twice daily. When your toenail grows out enough, you can trim it straight across.
3. Try Some Cotton: A popular treatment you can try on your own is using some cotton to correct your nail’s curve. To use this method, place a small amount of cotton gauze under the nail, right where it curves into your toe. Ideally, the nail’s current curve will be corrected and will grow out evenly. To prevent infection, dip the cotton in either apple cider vinegar or peroxide before applying to your toe. Change the dressing daily.
4. Use The V Cut: You can also change the direction in which your nail is growing by embracing the V cut. To do this, cut a V shape into the center part of your nail at the top. In theory, this will encourage your nail to grow towards the middle, pulling it away from the edges of your toe. You can also try filing the top of your nail as a way to promote new nail growth.
5. See a Podiatrist: In some cases, ingrown toenails need surgery to completely remove. Only a podiatrist like those at Red Mountain Footcare can successfully help you in this way. Even if surgery isn’t required, they can advise you on how to remedy this painful condition with other methods. In addition, if you are diabetic or have a vascular disease, it’s that much more important to seek professional help when dealing with an ingrown toenail.

Dealing with a painful condition like an ingrown toenail can be difficult. After all, even taking one step is hard when you’re feet hurt. Thankfully, by following the five tips listed above, you can successfully remedy this uncomfortable problem.

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Another article you might be interested in: How Do I Know If I Have An Ingrown Toenail?