Ingrown Toenails Treatment Self-Care at Home

If it is early in the course of the ingrown toenail, then home care may be successful in preventing the need for surgery. Soak the foot in warm water four times a day. You do not need to add soap, salts, orantibacterial agents to the water. Wash the foot, including the affected area, twice a day with soap and water. Keep the foot clean and dry during the rest of the day. Do not wear high heels or tight-fitting shoes. Consider wearing sandals, if possible, until the condition clears up. Try to lift up the corner of the nail that is digging into the skin. Take a small piece of cotton or gauze and roll it between your fingers to form a small roll or wick. Then place the roll between the nail and the skin to keep it elevated. This is painful but is the most important part of home treatment. After every soaking, try to push the roll a little farther in. Change the roll out every day. It may take from seven to 15 days for the nail to grow out so that it does not poke into the skin any longer. You may take a pain reliever such asacetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If you see no improvement within three days, call your doctor

Home Remedy Topic: Ingrown Toenail 35 home remedy submissions for Ingrown Toenail

Submitted by JP at 2012-11-06 15:59:13

I had an ingrown toenail - near the top of my big toe. The nail had been cut out and was growing back but it wanted to grow back into the nail bed. I used dental floss to gently pull the nail up and then slid a doubled over piece of surgical tape behind the toenail - sticky sides were turned in together - I didn't want tape on the sensitive nail bed. I then taped over the nail to keep the surgical tape in place. I changed it every other day, washed the toe with warm water and soap, and within a week, the toe had healed and the nail was no longer ingrown. The dental floss was much easier to use than the toothpick and it didn't hurt as much.
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Submitted at 2012-09-01 18:48:14

Soak the toe in Epsom salts dissolved in hot water for 20 minutes. Dry thoroughly and then rub with the cut side of a raw onion. Rub the onion juices into the painful areas for about 10 minutes. Wrap with a fresh basil leaf (secure with tape) and put a sock over it overnight. The pain will be gone in the morning and the nail will grow straight.
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2 comments | rating: 5 (54 votes) |

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Submitted by TxBeauty1982 at 2012-08-16 11:13:44

Okay, here's what you do. I just did it & I already feel 99.9% better. You'll need the following... - long toothpick - paper towel - anti bacterial hand sanitizer (alcohol-free natural) - toenail clippers Take the toothpick & push under the toenail until you can see under where the toenail is suppose to be. Put hand sanitizer under the toe to make it soft. Repeat. Then, put hand sanitizer on top of toenail a couple of times to make it soft & go back with toothpick & push under the toenail until you can see under where the toenail is suppose to be. Push toothpick as far as you can until the area where the ingrown toenail comes out of the skin. Then, take toenail clippers & clip the toenail & after put more hand sanitizer on. Then, after clean as desired...& put nelsporin on & a bandaid.
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0 comments | rating: 4 (37 votes) |

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Submitted by TxBeauty1982 at 2012-08-15 15:34:54

Ingrown toenails make ya' wanna say every possible cuss word in the world. Believe me, I

know. I'm a stay home mom of 2 toddlers & ingrown toenails over stand there welcome very fast. The first time I had one, my dad took me to the doctor. He didn't waste NO time. The doctor said to soak it in warm salt water for about 15 to 30 minutes and dry it off with a clean towel. Now, that I'm an adult. Who just turned 30. I've been cursed with the best luck of getting one return. I've been putting band aids & nelesporin on. Cleaning with alcohol wipes. Separating the skin & nail with an alcohol wipe. Taking Ibprofen. I've tried the oragel to numb the pain. I've done the warm salt water soak for 15-30 minutes. I've cleaned with anti bacterial soap. I've made band aids out of paper towel & tape just to have something more breathable & been wearing socks. Anything to make it more comfortable to chase little ones around. I wanna try & cut into it but I haven't had the time. I've read SO many helpful info on ingrown toenails. Here's to this one going away & to who ever is reading this to get there's healed & lets try not to go through this again. The main thing is, to keep it clean & make the discomfort go away...where's that epidural when ya' need it!!
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1 comments | rating: 4 (38 votes) |

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Submitted by Barry Miller at 2012-05-06 13:18:50

Ingrown toenails? Had them for 35 years. Now I use a Dremel tool, with the smallest bur bit you can get, to gently cut a line down the side of the nail - going as low as comfortably possible. The cut doesn't have to go completely through the nail to the skin. The bur generates heat, so you will feel when you have cut deep enough. Once you have cut as low as you like, try to cut outward to separate the cut portion from the nail bed. Once this is done, use needle nose tweezers, pliers, or whatever you have, to pull the cut portion out. It might take some digging, and you need a strong grip. CAUTION: Use lots of alcohol, and make sure everything is CLEAN! Be very careful with the Dremel tool. If you slip, you could cut yourself. This procedure usually causes very little bleeding, pain, or swelling. If done right, which it isn't difficult, there is instant relief - and it lasts approximately 2 months before the nail grows to the point of needing it again.
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3 comments | rating: 4 (82 votes) |

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Submitted by Toni at 2012-04-28 05:46:50

I went to a regular doctor had them cut out after he numbed my toe with shots. Didn't work.. they came right back. After suffering for 2 yrs with the ingrown toenail. Finally went to an old school podiatrist. He was very inexpensive. He sprayed on a topical numbing solution.. it felt soo good. Then he cut it out very gently. After he got it out and all was better I thought oh heck it's going to come back again. But, he told me how to keep them from coming back and after 30 yrs it is the ONLY thing that works. He told me to take a small small piece of a cotton ball.. some iodine over the toe or Merthiolate Take the piece of cotton and poke it all down the side of the toe with a toothpick. Poke it in there as far as it can go. The cotton should be all down the side of the toe and pushed into the skin next to the toenail. After you get it in there good.. and it's padded nicely but comfortably, put more iodine or merthiolate over the cotton. Then take some clear nail polish and cover the entire nail and the cotton ect. This will keep it in place and also keep dirt ect out of the area, and keep it dry. I did this nearly every day until the toenail grew back normal and 'relearned' where it needed to grow. It took like 6-9 months but it cost me next to nothing to do.. took maybe 5 mins of my time. Some times I could leave the stuff in a few days if I took my time and did it right. Alot of times I would rush and it would come out like at the end of the day but still did it's job and it worked. I have never had any more problems with the ingrown toenail since doing that 30 years ago. BEST doctor I ever met.
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5 comments | rating: 5 (97 votes) |

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Submitted by Darrell Crouse at 2012-02-26 08:35:30

Put Vick's vapo rub on the ingrown toenail and wear a sock to bed for several nights. Worked for me.
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3 comments | rating: 5 (101 votes) |

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Submitted at 2011-12-16 17:09:59

You can typically perform ingrown toenail treatment yourself at home but if you are having pain that is getting worse and you notice more redness and pus, its time to go see your doctor. One

thing you can do at home to treat your ingrown toenail if you notice it before it gets too far along is to put a piece of cotton under the nail in order to separate the nail from the overlaying skin. This may allow the nail to grow above the edge of the skin. If this doesnt work you will probably have to remove part of the nail and the skin that the nail was starting to grow into. It is best to try soaking in Epsoms salt, maybe even three or four times a day for a few days to get the area clean and soft before clearing out the problem. There are a variety of tools to use for ingrown toenail treatment but a good ingrown toenail clippers and tweezers should work for everything you will need to do, just make sure the tools are all sterile before use and to wipe the toenail area down with an alcohol swab before and after your done. It will hurt but the pain can be reduced by numbing creams and ice. It is best to take care of it as soon as you can as the problem and the pain will only get worse if not treated. Each toe is different but what you need to do is snip off the part of the nail that is growing against the skin, you may need to pull the piece or of nail and some dead skin out. Then wash the area thoroughly. Keep bandaged for a few days with triple antibiotic ointment. Change the bandage daily, more than just once if needed, to keep an eye on it and if it seems to be getting any worse you will need to see your doctor
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2 comments | rating: 5 (102 votes) |

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Submitted by Paul louis wanninger at 2011-08-23 07:01:47

You hear a lot of things ,this works.There is a new product Sally Hansen Ingrown be gone. Remove & smooth painful ingrown nails-stainless steel.Follow the directions on back of the special made cutter and your problems are gone!
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2 comments | rating: 4 (99 votes) |

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Submitted at 2011-08-04 09:38:12

I don't know if this will work or not.. but you know that annoying plastic that you get when you buy a certain product.. its almost impossible to get it off until you go home and cut it out. I wonder if you cut that plastic into strips it'll give you a similar effect as NailEase. Or if you go to Walmart and buy a clear spray bottle or any plastic bottle and cut strips vertically. They make such a variety with different thickness, I'm sure there is one out there that will work for less

money than NailEase. Plus its clear so it won't be as noticeable. You can buy nail glue just about anywhere too. I would suggest sally beauty supply because its salon quality and are open to the public. They also have lite-less gel filler (for fake nails) that's easy to apply with a little brush. I hope this helps. 1 comments | rating: 4 (63 votes) |
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The shoes that look good may not be the ones that feel good, and choosing style over comfort can sometimes cause pain. Ingrown toenails are one of the most common side effects of picking footwear that doesn't really fit your feet. An ingrown nail curves down and into the surrounding skin as it grows, causing the skin to grow over the nail. Although fingernails can also become ingrown, toenails, especially the big toe, are more susceptible to this condition [source:WebMD]. Ill-fitting shoes are one of the main causes of ingrown toenails. Other common causes include cutting your toenails incorrectly, injuring your toe or heredity. If you were born with nails that are too large for your toes or nails that naturally curve, you may be more at risk of developing ingrown toenails. You can work to prevent ingrown toenails by trimming your nails correctly and wearing shoes that give your toes more room. You should also trim your nails regularly, cutting them straight across the top and rounding the edges, to prevent them from growing too long [sources: Mayo Clinic, WebMD]. Symptoms of ingrown nails include redness, swelling, pain and sometimes pus drainage. You can usually treat an ingrown nail on your own, but your doctor can also perform simple surgical procedures to treat recurrent ingrown nails. If an ingrown nail is left untreated for too long, it can become infected and require antibiotics, so it's best to take steps to remedy an ingrown nail as soon as possible. If you opted for the stylish instead of the sensible shoes and now have an ingrown nail, you can begin treatment immediately [source: American Podiatric Medical Association]. Read on to learn how to treat an ingrown nail.

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Treating Ingrown Nails

Treating an ingrown nail requires time, patience and a few tools, but you can take care of most ingrown nails at home. If the nail isn't infected, one of the most common and effective home remedies is to take a

cotton ball or some waxed dental floss and place it under the nail. This separates the nail from the skin into which it's growing. You can use a bandage or medical tape to keep the cotton or floss in place [source:American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons]. To help the healing process and relieve any pain or discomfort, soak the finger or toe with the ingrown nail in warm water a few times a day. When not soaking the nail, keep the area clean and dry. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, to alleviate any pain. While the nail heals, wear comfortable shoes that give your toes room to move -- wearing constricting or ill-fitting shoes not only causes ingrown nails, but also makes them worse. If weather and activity permits, wearing open-toed sandals may be more comfortable than close-toed shoes [source: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons]. If these home remedies don't help -- or if the ingrown nail becomes infected or becomes a recurring problem, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Your doctor can discuss simple surgical procedures for removing the nail or part of the nail -- never try to remove your toenail without consulting a physician. A doctor will typically remove the nail only partially. Removing the entire nail may enable it to grow back in the same distorted shape, but partial nail removal will prevent the ingrown part of the nail from coming back. The surgery generally can be done as an outpatient procedure with a local anesthetic [source: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons]. Choosing one of these treatment options should help prevent your ingrown nail from becoming infected. However, if your nail is already infected, keep reading to learn how to treat it.

Treating Infected Ingrown Nails

It seems unlikely that you wouldn't notice an ingrown toenail, but it can happen. People with diabetes or circulation problems are especially likely to overlook an ingrown nail, while others may wait too long to begin treatment. If this happens, the nail can become infected. An ingrown nail can become infected in a few different ways. First, the overgrowth of the tissue onto the nail can permanently damage the tissue and cause infection. Second, an untreated ingrown toenail may begin to infect the bone that lies beneath it, which can lead to a serious bone infection. An infected ingrown nail is warm, red and swollen, and it may drain pus [sources: Mayo Clinic, WebMD]. If you're worried that your ingrown nail is infected, talk to your doctor. A physician can prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to fight the infection. At home, you can soak your toes in soapy water or salt water and then apply an antiseptic and a sterile bandage. If you have recurrent ingrown nails and infections, you may want to consider having the nail or part of the nail surgically removed [source: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons]. The most important thing to know about ingrown nails is that they're avoidable. If you wear comfortable shoes and keep your nails -- on both your fingers and toes -- trimmed properly, then you're less likely to develop ingrown nails. If you still develop ingrown nails, treat them immediately and consult a physician if they become infected. For more information on ingrown nails, see the links on the following page.

Which nails are most commonly affected?

The great toes are the most commonly affected sites. Other toenails may less commonly become ingrown. Fingernails may rarely become affected.

What causes infections in ingrown toenails?

Bacteria and fungi can easily infect the skin of the feet and nails. The foot's warm and moist environment is a great breeding ground for many kinds of infections including Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Candida, and Trichophyton. It is important to treat any secondary infections resulting from or following ingrown toenails.

What are possible complications of ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails may cause deeper bacterial tissue infection (cellulitis), localized infection of the nail fold (paronychia), andscarring of the nail fold and skin.

How do I treat an ingrown toenail at home?

Use warm soaks for 10 minutes two to three times a day during the flare.

Helpful soaks options include: 1. dilute white vinegar (roughly 1 part household vinegar to 4 parts water) 2.Epsom salts 3. very dilute Clorox bleach footbath (approximately 1/3 teaspoon Clorox in one medium bucket of water or one capful of Clorox in one bathtub full of water)

Elevate the foot and leg. Gently roll back the piece of overgrown skin after soaking the affected toenail. Gently slip a thin wisp of cotton or dental floss (tape) under the nail edge to help lift the nail off the skin.

Trim toenails straight across (not too short), and avoid curving at the edges.