Ingrown Toenail Remedies

If you have an ingrown toenail, then you know that the condition can be painful and even debilitating.  Fortunately, there are ingrown toenail remedies that you can use at home to get relief from the pain of ingrown toenails.  However, you should only try these ingrown toenail remedies if the nail isn't deeply embedded or showing signs of infection.

There are two primary ways to treat ingrown toenails at home involve either lifting and separating the ingrown portion of the nail that is digging into the skin, or using encouraging the nail to grow toward the center, instead of toward the edges.  Here are some ingrown toenail remedies that you can try:

 Ingrown Toenail Remedies - Soak and Lift

First, soak the affected foot in warm water for up to 20 minutes, one to four times a day, as your schedule permits.  This will help soften the skin around the toenail, making it easier for the ingrown portion to be disembedded from the skin around it.  There's no need to add soap or antimicrobial solutions to the water, but you may want to wash your feet before the soak so that you avoid soaking your foot in dirty water.

After you've soaked your foot, try to gently lift the corner of the toenail that is embedded in the skin.  You can purchase a special tool designed for this purpose, or use the nail file/nail cleaner on your nail clippers; make sure it's clean to prevent infection. 

After you've lifted the nail, roll up and wedge a small piece of gauze and place it between the nail and the skin to keep the nail elevated and prevent it from continuing to grow inward.  After each foot soak, try wedging the gauze a little further inward.  This can be somewhat painful, but it's the most important step to keep the ingrown nail from digging more deeply underneath the skin.

Ingrown Toenail Remedies - Cutting Toenails Properly

Another ingrown toenail remedy involves cutting a V-shaped notch in the center of the nail.  This encourages the nail to grow toward the notch in the center, instead of outward into the surrounding tissues.  Once your ingrown toenail is corrected, be sure to cut your toenails properly in the future to prevent recurrence.  You should avoid cutting your toenails too short, and cut mostly straight across instead of cutting deeply at the edges.

Comfort Measures and Prevention.

Make sure to keep the affected area clean and dry to prevent infection.  Wash the area twice daily with soap and water, and pat dry (don't rub).  Avoid using scented powders that could irritate the area or become encrusted in the toenail.

Make sure your shoes aren't exacerbating the problem.  Avoid high heels or too-tight shoes.  If the weather permits, wear open-toed shoes until the problem has been taken care of.  Try going barefoot in the house or wear only breathable cotton socks for more air circulation to the area.

It does take some time for ingrown toenail remedies to work, and the process can be painful.  In the meantime, you can take an over the counter analgesic like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief. 

If home ingrown toenail remedies don't improve the situation within 3 to 5 days, or if you notice signs of infection (fever, weeping or pus from the affected area, lesions or boils, severe redness and inflammation), call your doctor.

If you have a condition that could affect your circulation or immune response, like diabetes, AIDS, or if you are on chemotherapy, don't use ingrown toenail remedies at home - see your doctor for advice.