An ingrown toenail is one of the most painful foot conditions you can experience. Ingrown toenails are easy to treat, but you might be uncomfortable while waiting for treatment at Arizona Foot Health in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the meantime, there are easy home remedies that can relieve your discomfort. Podiatrists Ryan Golub, DPM, and Zachary Flynn, DPM, AACFAS, recommend these treatments for ingrown toenails that you can do yourself at home.
An ingrown toenail is a nail mistakenly grown into the skin surrounding your toe. The main challenge you’re likely to experience is pain.
In addition, ingrown toenails can be swollen, irritated, and red. The longer the ingrown toenail goes untreated, the higher the risk of infection.
You shouldn’t attempt to remove the ingrown toenail from the skin on your own. You risk causing an infection and potentially other complications.
While you’re waiting for an appointment for ingrown toenail removal, there are home remedies you can do to increase your comfort and reduce your risk of infection. Try these remedies for relief.
Soaking the ingrown toenail in warm water for 15-20 minutes at a time helps soften the nail and relieve discomfort. For additional relief, you can add Epsom salt or mild soap to the water.
After soaking the nail, dry it completely with a towel. You can soak your foot up to three times per day.
Once your foot is dry, you can apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream. This helps reduce your risk of developing an infection.
Loosely bandage the toe once you’ve applied the cream. You can also try using petroleum jelly on the impacted area to improve lubrication and comfort.
Tight, constricting shoes, or shoes that push your toes up to the front of the toe box, will make your ingrown toenail even more painful. Supportive sandals or open-toed shoes are the easiest on an ingrown toenail while your toe is loosely bandaged.
If you can’t wear open-toed shoes, wear flat, closed-toed shoes with plenty of space. In particular, ensure the shoes have plenty of room in the toe box.
If you wear socks, they should be loose and avoid any seams that press uncomfortably on the toe. Aim to wear socks that are made from a light, breathable fabric.
If a loose bandage isn’t doing the trick on its own, you can buy various toe protectors over the counter. They can cover just the nail or the whole toe.
Ingrown toenail protectors help protect your nail from friction and damage if you bump the toe and reduce the pressure on the nail.
Over-the-counter pain medication can offer short-term relief if your ingrown toenails are still painful. Ibuprofen helps reduce any swelling, while acetaminophen helps lower pain levels.
While you perform home remedies on the nail, be sure to make an appointment for ingrown nail removal as soon as possible. Getting the ingrown toenail out of the toe and treating any infection with antibiotics provides the greatest relief.
Ingrown toenail removal is an easy and quick in-office procedure. Contact us to make an appointment to correct an ingrown toenail.
