10 Remedies for Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails cause pain, redness, and swelling. Home remedies and medical treatments can help relieve symptoms and prevent future infections.

Ingrown toenails are a common problem, especially for people who wear shoes that are too tight or don’t allow their feet to breathe.

Around 20 percent of people experience an ingrown toenail at some point in their lives. Symptoms of an ingrown toenail can include pain and swelling of the toe. Sometimes, the nail may become infected.

There are many treatments for ingrown toenails, ranging from home remedies to surgery. In most cases, you can treat an ingrown toenail at home with over-the-counter medication or home remedies. However, if the nail is infected or causing severe pain, you may need to see a doctor for treatment.

An ingrown toenail happens when the corner or edge of your toenail curves and grows into the surrounding skin. This may cause pain, redness, and swelling. The condition is very common in both men and women. Your big toe is most likely to be affected.

Common causes of ingrown toenails are:

• toenail trauma, such as stubbing your toe
• wearing shoes that are too tight
• cutting toenails too short
• cutting toenails at an angle
• poor foot hygiene
• excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• certain medications, including epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors

To prevent infection, it’s important to treat ingrown toenails as soon as they occur. Mild cases may require minor treatment with home remedies. Serious cases may need surgical intervention.

The following treatments can help relieve pain and promote the healing of an ingrown toenail.

Soaking the affected foot may help reduce swelling and ease the pain. You can soak your foot in warm, soapy water for up to 20 minutes at a time. Castile soap is a good option. Adding Epsom salts to the water may bring additional relief.

Apple cider vinegar is a folk remedy for almost everything these days, including ingrown toenails. It’s believed to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving abilities, although scientific evidence is limited.

To try this remedy, prepare a basin of warm water combined with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. Soak the affected foot for up to 20 minutes daily. Dry your foot thoroughly after soaking.

Some experts recommend tucking small bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the edge of an ingrown toenail to encourage proper nail growth. Not every medical group agrees.

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, placing cotton under your nail may increase pain and allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Soaking the cotton or floss in alcohol before application may help reduce this risk.

Using over-the-counter antiseptic ointment or cream can promote healing and help reduce the risk of infection. Apply the ointment to the affected toenail following the manufacturer’s instructions, usually up to three times daily.

These ointments can include:

• neomycin (Neosporin)
• bacitracin/polymyxin B (Polysporin)
• mupirocin (Bactroban)

Be sure to bandage the toenail after application.

Shoes and socks that are too tight can crowd your toes. Improper footwear is a leading cause of ingrown toenails. To help prevent an ingrown toenail from developing or worsening, wear shoes and socks or hosiery that fit but still leave ample space in the toe bed. During the healing process, avoid shoes or wear sandals as much as possible to limit pressure on your toenails.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help relieve ingrown toenail pain. Side effects are unusual unless you take more than the daily recommended amount of 2 325 milligram (mg) tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Do not exceed 10 tablets in 24 hours and don’t take it with alcohol.

If swelling is present, ibuprofen (Advil) may be a better option because it relieves both pain and swelling. Some common side effects of ibuprofen include abdominal pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Take all over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by the manufacturer or a doctor.

A toe protector provides a cushioning barrier for ingrown toenails. Toe protectors are available as rings that fit around the affected area or as a covering for the entire toe. Some brands of toe protectors, such as Dr. Scholl’s, come with a medicated gel to help soften toenails for easy trimming. Use the treatment as directed until the ingrown toenail is gone.

Toe braces are thin composite devices that hold the toe in place and shield the skin from as a new nail grows back. They help treat and prevent ingrown toenails. You can find toe braces online and in some pharmacies.

Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics for a severe ingrown toenail infection that doesn’t respond to other remedies and treatments. Oral antibiotics help reduce pain and swelling while also fighting infection.

Some signs of infection may include:

• increased redness
• throbbing pain
• increased swelling
• pus
• warmth in the affected toe and its surrounding area
• foul odor

Some antibiotics used to treat infected ingrown toenails are ampicillin (Omnipen), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag), and vancomycin (Vancocin).

If an ingrown toenail doesn’t improve with home remedies, partial or full removal of the nail may be necessary. Using a local anesthetic, a doctor may remove part of the nail’s border, the underlying nail bed, or part of the middle growth plate.

In severe, recurring cases, the doctor may recommend removing the entire ingrown nail. This is the last resort and a potentially painful solution that may increase your risk of infection. It also increases the risk of a misshapen toenail as it grows back.

Minor foot problems like ingrown toenails may cause serious complications in some people. See the doctor if you have an ingrown toenail and you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation, or you have a compromised immune system.

You should also see a doctor if:

• pain and swelling are severe
• home remedies don’t improve the condition
• you have an allergic skin reaction to a home remedy
• you have questions about how to care for an ingrown toenail

Most ingrown toenails aren’t serious. They should improve within a week or so without causing permanent damage with the proper home care. Left untreated, ingrown toenails may cause severe pain and infection that could spread to deeper layers of skin.

It’s common for ingrown toenails to recur, especially if you don’t take steps to prevent them.

Prevention tips

• Move around carefully to avoid toenail trauma.
• Trim your toenails straight across, no shorter than the tip of your toe.
• If your job increases your risk of toenail injury, wear protective footgear.

Was this helpful?

Ingrown toenails can be painful, but they’re usually easy to treat at home. Wearing proper-fitting shoes, trimming your nails straight across, and soaking your feet can help prevent ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails usually heal without causing permanent damage. But, sometimes, they can lead to serious complications. See your doctor if you have an underlying condition that puts you at risk for complications, such as diabetes.

10 Remedies for Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails cause pain, redness, and swelling. Home remedies and medical treatments can help relieve symptoms and prevent future infections.

Ingrown toenails are a common problem, especially for people who wear shoes that are too tight or don’t allow their feet to breathe.

Around 20 percent of people experience an ingrown toenail at some point in their lives. Symptoms of an ingrown toenail can include pain and swelling of the toe. Sometimes, the nail may become infected.

There are many treatments for ingrown toenails, ranging from home remedies to surgery. In most cases, you can treat an ingrown toenail at home with over-the-counter medication or home remedies. However, if the nail is infected or causing severe pain, you may need to see a doctor for treatment.

An ingrown toenail happens when the corner or edge of your toenail curves and grows into the surrounding skin. This may cause pain, redness, and swelling. The condition is very common in both men and women. Your big toe is most likely to be affected.

Common causes of ingrown toenails are:

• toenail trauma, such as stubbing your toe
• wearing shoes that are too tight
• cutting toenails too short
• cutting toenails at an angle
• poor foot hygiene
• excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• certain medications, including epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors

To prevent infection, it’s important to treat ingrown toenails as soon as they occur. Mild cases may require minor treatment with home remedies. Serious cases may need surgical intervention.

The following treatments can help relieve pain and promote the healing of an ingrown toenail.

Soaking the affected foot may help reduce swelling and ease the pain. You can soak your foot in warm, soapy water for up to 20 minutes at a time. Castile soap is a good option. Adding Epsom salts to the water may bring additional relief.

Apple cider vinegar is a folk remedy for almost everything these days, including ingrown toenails. It’s believed to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving abilities, although scientific evidence is limited.

To try this remedy, prepare a basin of warm water combined with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. Soak the affected foot for up to 20 minutes daily. Dry your foot thoroughly after soaking.

Some experts recommend tucking small bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the edge of an ingrown toenail to encourage proper nail growth. Not every medical group agrees.

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, placing cotton under your nail may increase pain and allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Soaking the cotton or floss in alcohol before application may help reduce this risk.

Using over-the-counter antiseptic ointment or cream can promote healing and help reduce the risk of infection. Apply the ointment to the affected toenail following the manufacturer’s instructions, usually up to three times daily.

These ointments can include:

• neomycin (Neosporin)
• bacitracin/polymyxin B (Polysporin)
• mupirocin (Bactroban)

Be sure to bandage the toenail after application.

Shoes and socks that are too tight can crowd your toes. Improper footwear is a leading cause of ingrown toenails. To help prevent an ingrown toenail from developing or worsening, wear shoes and socks or hosiery that fit but still leave ample space in the toe bed. During the healing process, avoid shoes or wear sandals as much as possible to limit pressure on your toenails.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help relieve ingrown toenail pain. Side effects are unusual unless you take more than the daily recommended amount of 2 325 milligram (mg) tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Do not exceed 10 tablets in 24 hours and don’t take it with alcohol.

If swelling is present, ibuprofen (Advil) may be a better option because it relieves both pain and swelling. Some common side effects of ibuprofen include abdominal pain, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Take all over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by the manufacturer or a doctor.

A toe protector provides a cushioning barrier for ingrown toenails. Toe protectors are available as rings that fit around the affected area or as a covering for the entire toe. Some brands of toe protectors, such as Dr. Scholl’s, come with a medicated gel to help soften toenails for easy trimming. Use the treatment as directed until the ingrown toenail is gone.

Toe braces are thin composite devices that hold the toe in place and shield the skin from as a new nail grows back. They help treat and prevent ingrown toenails. You can find toe braces online and in some pharmacies.

Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics for a severe ingrown toenail infection that doesn’t respond to other remedies and treatments. Oral antibiotics help reduce pain and swelling while also fighting infection.

Some signs of infection may include:

• increased redness
• throbbing pain
• increased swelling
• pus
• warmth in the affected toe and its surrounding area
• foul odor

Some antibiotics used to treat infected ingrown toenails are ampicillin (Omnipen), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag), and vancomycin (Vancocin).

If an ingrown toenail doesn’t improve with home remedies, partial or full removal of the nail may be necessary. Using a local anesthetic, a doctor may remove part of the nail’s border, the underlying nail bed, or part of the middle growth plate.

In severe, recurring cases, the doctor may recommend removing the entire ingrown nail. This is the last resort and a potentially painful solution that may increase your risk of infection. It also increases the risk of a misshapen toenail as it grows back.

Minor foot problems like ingrown toenails may cause serious complications in some people. See the doctor if you have an ingrown toenail and you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation, or you have a compromised immune system.

You should also see a doctor if:

• pain and swelling are severe
• home remedies don’t improve the condition
• you have an allergic skin reaction to a home remedy
• you have questions about how to care for an ingrown toenail

Most ingrown toenails aren’t serious. They should improve within a week or so without causing permanent damage with the proper home care. Left untreated, ingrown toenails may cause severe pain and infection that could spread to deeper layers of skin.

It’s common for ingrown toenails to recur, especially if you don’t take steps to prevent them.

Prevention tips

• Move around carefully to avoid toenail trauma.
• Trim your toenails straight across, no shorter than the tip of your toe.
• If your job increases your risk of toenail injury, wear protective footgear.

Was this helpful?

Ingrown toenails can be painful, but they’re usually easy to treat at home. Wearing proper-fitting shoes, trimming your nails straight across, and soaking your feet can help prevent ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails usually heal without causing permanent damage. But, sometimes, they can lead to serious complications. See your doctor if you have an underlying condition that puts you at risk for complications, such as diabetes.

Ingrown toenail treatment at home

If at an early stage an ingrown nail is often seen only by a podologist, then in the future the problem is already obvious – swelling, redness, bruising, aching pain when walking appears. The nail roller noticeably thickens. Urgent medical attention is required.

Causes

The main causes of the disease:

• use of uncomfortable shoes that squeeze the toes and prevent normal growth of the nail plates;
• tight socks made of synthetic fabrics;
• errors in the work of a pedicure master or an inaccurately trimmed nail;
• plate deformation;
• fungal infection of the plate;
• impaired circulation;
• finger injury;
• genetic inheritance;
• physiological features.

The most vulnerable place for the appearance of an ingrown toenail is the big toes.

Main stages of development of onychrocryptosis

The disease proceeds in several stages:

1. When walking in tight shoes or when squeezing a toe, discomfort and pain occur. Pronounced inflammatory effect at the first stage.
2. Swelling and slight reddening of the skin folds appear in the affected area. The pain when squeezed becomes acute, the tissues begin to become inflamed.
3. The damaged area becomes very inflamed, pus begins to flow. Side bolsters in deep red. Temperature rise is possible. Severe pain becomes constant.
4. The skin on the damaged area thickens, the deformation of the nail fold begins. The pain becomes acute, the inability to walk in shoes.

With onychrocryptosis, treatment is required, it is best to contact a podology center or a beauty center where a podiatrist works.

At the first stage, the treatment will be quick – follow the doctor’s recommendations. When the first pain sensations appear and there are suspicions of an ingrown nail, it is recommended to treat the reddened area with antiseptic preparations 2 times a day. Avoid tight shoes and thick synthetic socks. Light cotton socks and regular hygiene are important components of treatment and prevention. Antiseptic drugs will prevent the development of the inflammatory process. The nail plate will grow back, return to its original position and will not cause discomfort.

Ingrown toenail risk group

The presence of onychrocryptosis can be a serious problem for patients with diabetes. The specificity of this serious disease is a violation of tissue trophism. The damaged area quickly attaches other infections. The inflammatory process proceeds faster, with serious consequences. An ingrown toenail often causes gangrene. Onychrocryptosis in the presence of diabetes is treated exclusively by a podiatrist.

How and what to treat at home

We strongly discourage self-treatment. Treatment is the task of the podiatrist. Consider the tools and techniques that are used at home, as well as the possible consequences.

One of the most common methods of treating pathology are ointments. In the initial stages, use:

• Levomekol;
• Iichthyol ointment;
• Uroderm;
• Vishnevsky ointment;
• Ointment based on calendula.

Levomekol is evenly distributed over the surface of the bandage with a layer of small thickness. The impregnated bandage is applied to the affected area and the finger is bandaged. In advanced cases, it is recommended to inject levomekol into the affected area of ​​the skin with a syringe. For painlessness, the ointment is heated to the temperature of the human body.

When using ichthyol ointment, you must make sure that there is no allergic reaction to this drug. The remedy is applied at night. The ointment is applied to a bandage or gauze, applied to the affected area and bandaged. Additionally, the finger is wrapped in cling film. The result of the treatment comes no earlier than a week later.

The main active ingredient of Uroderm is urea, which effectively softens the skin and nail plate. The ointment is applied to the area between the skin roller and the nail plate for several days. After a few days of treatment, the deformed edge of the nail can be removed without difficulty.

Vishnevsky’s ointment is intended for disinfection of the affected area. As a result of the application, inflammation is removed and pain disappears.

Ointment based on calendula can be prepared independently. This will require melted pork fat and 50 g of finely chopped calendula flower. The fat is heated, a medicinal plant is added to it and the composition is brought to a boil. On low heat, the ointment boils for 20 minutes, after which it is cooled at room temperature. Used for dressing at night.

Therapeutic baths and compressors are an effective remedy for ingrown nails in the early stages of the disease. Well removes the inflammatory process and softens the pain of a salt bath. Hot water is drawn into a container convenient for the procedure so that it covers the foot. Add a few tablespoons of ordinary table salt, mix and lower the leg. The duration of the procedure is at least 20 minutes.

A soapy bath steams the nail plate well. The recipe is simple – a piece of soap is dissolved in hot water, the foot is immersed in the bath for 20 minutes. The steamed nail becomes soft, you can lift it, put a small piece of cotton under it and set the plate in the correct direction.

An alternative to these baths is a milk compress. It is enough to dip a bandage into boiled milk. The impregnated tissue is applied to the affected area and fixed on top with cling film. A cotton sock is worn over the top. The nail plate will soften in 3-4 hours and it will be possible to cut off the corner that grows into the tissue.

You can wash the affected area with propolis tincture. The procedure is carried out several times a day. At night, a compress with this tincture is recommended. In a few days, the inflammation is removed and the plate can be corrected. Chamomile baths soften nails well. To do this, you need to make an infusion: pour 6 tablespoons of flowers into 2 liters of boiling water and insist for 1.5-2 hours. A bath with chamomile is taken for 15 minutes.

At night, a plantain compress is also made. You will need two fresh leaves of plants: one of them is finely chopped, applied to the affected nail, and the second is wrapped with a finger. Apply a bandage and leave until the morning.

Ingrown toenail treatment: radical methods

The radical solution is surgical.

Running cases lead to the appearance of pus, poorly stopped bleeding. Self-treatment in these conditions becomes unproductive. Complications cannot be ignored, they cause general blood poisoning, gangrene, amputation of the finger.

The removal of one of the symptoms only postpones the visit to the doctor, complicates the treatment. It is not necessary to worsen the situation, a timely appeal to a specialist will allow you to do without long-term treatment.

When to contact a podiatrist

With the timely detection of pathology, the optimal course of treatment with the use of antiseptics is 4-5 days. If after this period the inflammation could not be removed, then it is necessary to contact a podiatrist. In the absence of a specialized specialist, make an appointment with a surgeon.

In the clinic, an ingrown nail is removed with specially prepared surgical instruments. The doctor uses a local anesthetic to relieve pain.

The podiatrist rarely uses radical methods of treatment. At the disposal of a specialist of this profile there are special plates and staples, with the help of which the nail plate rises and the direction of growth changes. The recovery process lasts at least 2 weeks, but pain disappears after the first visit to the doctor. In advanced conditions, plates and staples are installed for up to 2-3 months.

The use of folk methods and antiseptics only temporarily relieves symptoms and facilitates the course of the disease. Eliminating the ingrown nail, remove the source of infection, improve the quality of life. Contact podiatrists at Ola Beauty Centers.

Ingrown toenail treatment at home

Ingrown toenail – how to treat at home.

An ingrown toenail is a serious condition in which damage occurs to the skin fold surrounding the nail plate.

The main symptoms of the disease include:

– Pain when squeezing the finger. During movement, there is discomfort and aching pain on the finger;

– Redness. Around the nail there is local redness;

– Edema;

– Bleeding. In the place where the nail damages the skin of the finger, there is a slight bleeding;

– Pus. Pus appears under the nail and from the infected nail fold.

– Hypergranulation. The nail roller noticeably thickens.

Stages of ingrowth

Several main stages of nail plate ingrowth should be distinguished:

Stage 1: Pain when walking in tight shoes. Pain occurs at the moment of pressing on the area of ​​damage to the finger. At this stage, there is no pronounced inflammatory effect.

Stage 2: Appearance of local edema and redness on the lateral skin ridges. The person is in severe pain. An inflammatory process occurs on the injured finger.

Stage 3: There is a separation of pus and blood from the affected area. The side bolsters become more and more saturated red. There is severe pain and inflammation.

Stage 4: Hypergranulation of the skin. The nail roller thickens and deforms. The pain becomes more acute. The inflammatory process intensifies.

Treatment

An ingrown nail makes the patient think about what to do and whether it can be cured at home?

In the first stages, you can heal yourself. To do this, if pain occurs, redness of the skin near the nail is detected, it is recommended to treat the ingrown nail and the skin near it with antiseptic preparations a couple of times a day. Further, it is recommended to apply a special bandage to the affected area. It will protect the affected area and allow the skin to breathe freely. So you can get rid of the disease – an ingrown nail, and treatment at home allows you to timely prevent the serious consequences of this disease.

Thanks to the antiseptic treatment of the finger, infection is prevented in the local area of ​​the skin lesion. This will slow down the further development of the inflammatory process. As a result, the nail will grow back and return to its original position.

Complications

Diabetes mellitus can become a complication of this disease. In this case, the inflammation proceeds much faster, taking into account the violation of tissue trophism. The area of ​​damage to the skin remains open for a long time. In this regard, it is recommended that people who suffer from diabetes do not self-medicate. In this case, you must immediately contact medical institutions, where the appropriate specialists will provide the necessary assistance.

How to treat an ingrown toenail at home in a different way?

Other more radical treatments are available. These include self-cutting the affected area of ​​the nail. This is a rather dangerous procedure, which in rare cases gives a positive outcome. When cutting out the edge of the nail that grows into the finger, there is only a temporary relief of pain. As a rule, another angle remains, which is located closer to the cuticle. The splitting of the nail into several separate parts at once can occur. This leads to the simultaneous occurrence of a number of foci of inflammation. As a result, the nail grows back and everything also begins to penetrate the soft tissues. The inflammation becomes chronic. At this stage, a person develops hypergranulation, which is expressed by the fact that the skin is layered around the ingrown part of the nail.

With the appearance of purulent discharge and bleeding, home treatment becomes less productive. Most patients in the presence of such manifestations ignore this problem for a long time. This leads to complications, including amputation of the injured finger or general blood poisoning.

It can be argued that home treatment of an ingrown toenail by simply cutting off the nail is only symptomatic relief, not a cure for the problem. In the long term, this type of treatment leads to a worsening of the situation.

When to contact specialists?

If during the first four days of treatment at home with an antiseptic did not bring the desired effect and the inflammatory process only intensified, it is recommended to seek help from a surgeon or a podiatrist.