6 Options to Relieve Ingrown Toenail Pain at Home

Ingrown toenails are a common condition that can significantly impact your quality of life. Whether you’re hoping to hit the gym or slip into your favorite pair of heels, the pain associated with ingrown toenails can get in the way of your plans. While many people with ingrown toenails only experience minor pain and inconvenience, others develop serious complications such as infection (which can even turn into life-threatening bone infections). As such, it’s worth addressing ingrown toenails as soon as they arise to avoid making your symptoms worse. 

If you or someone you know have got an ingrown toenail, don’t panic. The simplest way to resolve your issue is to give us a visit. If you’re short on time and your symptoms are relatively mild, however, it’s possible to treat your ingrown toenails at home, or at least lessen the likelihood of infection until you can come in. To help aid your recovery, we’ve put together a handy list of home remedies for you to try.   

What is an Ingrown Toenail?

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of a toenail curve around the edge of a toe and dig into the surrounding skin. As the toenail grows, it will cut deeper into the skin, causing pain, swelling, and redness. While it’s not always easy to determine the precise cause behind an ingrown toenail, common culprits include:

• Toenail trauma.
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes that rub against the tip of the toe.
• Cutting your toenails in a round shape instead of straight across.
• Trimming your toenails too short.
• Failing to keep your toes clean and dry.
• Being genetically predisposed to curved toenails.

Most ingrown toenails affect the big toe, although this isn’t always the case.

Remedies to relieve ingrown toenail pain at home

The following treatments are quick, simple, and will help relieve your pain. It is worth noting, however, that some treatments may be more effective than others, so you may wish to experiment with these options to boost your chances of recovery. 

1. Soak Your Toe in Warm, Soapy Water

Soaking your foot could help reduce swelling in your toe and provide much-needed pain relief. It’s also a great remedy to try if you need a quick, cost-effective solution. For best results, we recommend soaking your foot for around 20 minutes at a time, around three times a day. Why not use it as an excuse to sit down and unwind with a gripping book or your favorite beverage?

2. Soak the Toe in Apple Cider Vinegar

While soaking your toe in soapy water represents an easy option, it’s less effective than other measures. If you’re looking to soak your toe in something more powerful, apple cider vinegar could represent a better option. Known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities, many sufferers of ingrown toenails swear by this common kitchen ingredient. To prepare your solution, mix a large bowl of warm water with a quarter of a cup of apple cider vinegar. Then, soak the foot for up to twenty minutes once per day. Remember to rinse and dry your foot thoroughly after soaking to prevent further infection and nasty odors!

3. Soak Your Toe in an Epsom Salt Solution

Epsom salts represent a common and often effective solution for mild cases of ingrown toenails. Epsom sales are widely available at reasonable prices in drug stores and grocery stores. Once you’ve got your hands on some salts, add a pinch of the salt to a bowl of warm water and soak for 20 minutes. Feel free to repeat this step a few times a day and massage the affected area to reduce painful inflammation. 

4. Cleanse your Toe with Hydrogen Peroxide

Commonly used to treat a range of wounds, hydrogen peroxide is a widely touted remedy for ingrown toenails that could help prevent infection. Start by creating a solution of warm water and hydrogen peroxide, ensuring it includes at least 3% hydrogen peroxide. Then, soak the foot for around 20 minutes up to three times per day. 

5. Wear Comfortable Shoes that Fit

One of the simplest and most effective ways to treat and prevent ingrown toenails is to invest in well-fitting shoes. Make sure that the shoes you wear have plenty of wiggle room and don’t rub against your toes while you walk. If you’re desperate to wear a pair of heels for a fancy occasion, try to limit the time you spend walking in the shoes and consider investing in toe protectors.

6. Apply Antibiotic Ointments 

Applying antibiotic ointments such as Bactroban or Tricin to ingrown toenails can help to reduce the risk of infection and promote healing. Make sure to follow any instructions provided with the ointment and apply a bandage following application. 

How NOT to Relieve Ingrown Toenail Pain at Home

Some people are tempted to try drastic ingrown toenail treatments to relieve their pain. While tempting, these treatments can make your problem worse. As such, we strongly recommend avoiding:

• “Bathroom surgery”: While you may think you can treat your inflamed skin with sharp objects and cotton balls, attempting any kind of surgical procedure could trigger a serious infection. Only trained professionals should go anywhere near your toenails with surgical instruments.
• Using prescription medicines, including topical antibiotics: You should only ever use prescription medications with guidance from a doctor. Failure to do so could lead to problems such as allergic reactions. 

Struggling to Treat Your Ingrown Toenails? We’re Here to Help!

If your ingrown toenail is very painful or shows signs of infection such as pus or discharge, it’s time to make an appointment with our podiatrists. The good news is that our podiatrists are trained to treat ingrown toenails as quickly and painlessly as possible. To make an appointment, please reach out at (972) 690-5374 or fill out our simple contact form. One of our friendly team members will be in touch, and we’ll get you back on your feet pain-free in no time!

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

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 folds. 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 can I treat an ingrown toenail at home in a different way?

There are other more radical treatments. 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.

The surgeon removes the nail, or part of it, using special surgical instruments. This operation is performed under local anesthesia. After surgery, it will take a couple of weeks to fully recover.

The podiatrist uses non-surgical methods to treat this condition. To do this, he uses special brackets and plates. In the first stages, the removal of the inflammatory process and recovery will be no more than two weeks. The pain will disappear immediately after help is provided. If the inflammatory process has passed into the chronic stage, then it is recommended to wear staples and plates until the nail plate acquires its original appearance.

So, how to cure an ingrown toenail at home is clear – only with the help of an antiseptic. In case of complications, it is better to contact specialized specialists.

what to do, causes, treatment without surgery, complications, prevention

Medicine and health

Eva Korneeva

podologist

Author profile

I work as a podologist – a specialist in medical pedicure – and I often meet with clients who do not know what to do with an ingrown toenail, why this problem occurs and returns again after treatment.

In the article I will tell you why nails can grow into the surrounding soft tissues and what to do about it.

See a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don’t write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

What is an ingrown nail

An ingrown nail is an ingrowth of the nail plate into the surrounding skin. The medical name for the problem is onychocryptosis.

Onychocryptosis – Medscape

Occurs in adults and children of all ages: newborns, toddlers, adolescents. Big toes are more often affected, as they have the largest nail area and voluminous nail ridges.

The diagnosis of “onychocryptosis” is not uncommon – it occurs in 20% of patients who visit a doctor with foot problems.

Why nails grow in

Each toenail or toenail is surrounded by soft skin. Normally, the free edge of the nail, or a white stripe that is not associated with the nail bed, grows over this skin. But sometimes it happens that the direction of growth changes. The plate goes sideways, rests against soft tissues and grows into them.

The main reason is incorrect cutting of nails. Many people use scissors with rounded edges for pedicures. As a result, they cut off the corners of the nail plate. According to my observations, it is this factor that leads to ingrowth in 95% of cases.

The second common cause of onychocryptosis is nail fungus, or onychomycosis. With a fungal infection, the nail plate exfoliates and becomes brittle. It can bend, grow into the nail fold, damage the surrounding tissues.

How to cure nail fungus and how much does it cost? The nail fold becomes soft due to the humid environment, and the edges of the nail plate injure it, causing discomfort.

Other possible causes:

• wearing uncomfortable tight shoes, such as narrow toe;
• sports, in which you often have to walk on your toes: ballet, dancing, and others;
• repetitive injuries of the nail plate;
• heredity – ingrown nails are more common in those whose parents also suffered from such a problem;
• poor foot hygiene.

Diabetes, obesity, and thyroid, heart, and kidney disorders that predispose to lower extremity swelling can also increase the chance of ingrown nails.

How an ingrown nail manifests itself

An ingrown nail always injures the nail fold. The more neglected the process, the more painful the symptoms and the more difficult the treatment.

There are three stages of onychocryptosis:

1. First stage. There is pain when pressing on the nail roller, slight swelling is possible.
2. Second stage. Signs of inflammation develop. The nail roller turns red, pain is felt when walking. There are difficulties with wearing shoes. Possible purulent discharge.
3. Third stage. The inflammatory process progresses. The soft tissues around the ingrown toenail grow. Painful tumor growths are formed, which are called “wild meat”. An infection joins, suppuration begins. Due to severe pain, a person can no longer walk normally, lameness appears.

Ingrown toenails – DermNet encyclopedia

How ingrown nails are treated

In mild cases, you can contact a podiatrist. Conservative treatment is indicated in the first two stages, if there is no severe pain and suppuration.

Ingrown toenail treatment – American Academy of Family Physicians

In severe cases, surgery is needed – only a doctor can treat this way, you need to contact a surgeon.

Overall, according to a Cochrane database review, surgical interventions are more effective than non-surgical interventions in preventing recurrent ingrown toenails. However, they can be more traumatic, so they are not always required in mild stages.

Do not self-medicate with onychocryptosis. Even if you have the first stage and the nail does not heal on its own, it is better to contact a podiatrist or surgeon, and if symptoms of the second stage are already present, you should immediately go to the doctor. To endure the pain and wait for everything to pass by itself is unlikely to work out, the situation may worsen.

“Ordinary pedicure is about beauty, and podological pedicure is about health”: podiatrist Irina Katenina

In addition, you should adhere to the following restrictions:

1. Do not wear synthetic socks or tights, they do not absorb sweat and increase the risk of infection.
2. Do not lubricate the sore spot with lemon juice, honey, vegetable oils, or other folk remedies, as this may increase irritation and inflammation.
3. Do not attempt to pick out, file or trim an ingrown nail with manicure tools, so as not to further injure the nail.

When to seek help for an ingrown toenail and how surgeons treat ingrown toenails

Irina Starostina

surgeon, DocDeti and DocMed clinics

At the initial stages, you can do salt baths: hold your feet in warm salt water for 15 minutes, and then apply an antibacterial ointment, such as Levomekol or Bonderm. If there is no effect after 3-5 days of such therapy, it is time to go to a specialist.

You also need to go to the doctor if the inflammation is severe, there is acute pain, a feeling of pain even with a light touch on the finger.

The surgeon chooses the treatment method depending on the size of the ingrown nail and the depth of the ingrown nail. The easiest option is to remove part of the nail. This is done without anesthesia, if there is no pronounced pain syndrome.

In more complex cases, a marginal resection of the nail plate is performed with plasty of the roller. The operation is performed under local conduction anesthesia – with an injection into the lateral surface of the finger. The doctor makes incisions in the area of ​​​​the corners of the roller and removes the ingrown part of the nail along with the growth zone, which is located at its lower edge. Then he puts the skin roller in place and fixes it with a bandage.

How to get rid of an ingrown toenail without surgery

Non-surgical treatments are used for the first and second stages of an ingrown toenail. It is virtually painless if you follow the protocol and use a good sports freeze.

Plugging, when a thin material is placed between the nail plate and the roller. If necessary, drugs with anti-inflammatory or antibacterial action are applied to it.

Plugging prevents contact of the nail with inflamed soft tissues of the lateral ridge, prevents its ingrowth. The padding does not create discomfort. With it you can swim, play sports. You need to wear it with periodic replacements until the nail plate completely grows back and takes the correct shape.

Nail packing

Correction systems with staples. In appearance, after installation, they resemble braces on the teeth. The staple is glued to the nail plate along the edges or wrapped around the nail and glued in the center where the loop is located.

This corrective system lifts the ingrown nail and relieves pressure on the nail fold. This leads to a correction of the shape of the growing nail and a decrease in pain. The force of impact on the nail plate is regulated by tensioning the clip.

Correction system installation example

Correction plate. This is a strip a few millimeters wide, which is fixed with special glue across the nail. The strips can be made of different materials, they are selected taking into account the thickness and softness of the nail. They allow you to correct the bending of the nail plate.

Correction plate lifts the nail, pulls it up, which prevents it from cutting into the side ridges. Such plates have to be changed periodically, because as the nail grows, their effectiveness decreases.

Modern plates and braces are comfortable, not felt when walking, do not cling to clothes. The procedure for placing staples or plates is painless and takes 20-30 minutes.

Staples and plates are very effective for treating ingrown toenails. Their only drawbacks are the duration of wearing, which ranges from several weeks to 14 months, and the need for replacement.

How an unsuccessful manicure can harm

The patient does not need to take additional care of corrective braces and plates. It is enough to keep your finger clean, not to wear narrow shoes, go for correction and not try to take them off on your own.

Correction plate. Source: tongtool.com

Complications of an ingrown toenail

If left untreated, onychocryptosis can lead to infection and, in severe cases, even amputation of the toe.

Among the complications may be the following:

1. acute purulent inflammation of the tissues of the finger – panaritium;
2. purulent lesion, death of bone tissue – osteomyelitis;
3. death of the soft tissues of the finger – gangrene.

Especially quickly complications develop in people with circulatory disorders in the lower extremities. This happens with atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs or diabetes mellitus – diabetic foot.

How to prevent ingrown nails

Trim your nails properly. Do not cut or round corners, use scissors with straight ends, after cutting, the contour of the nail should follow its physiological growth line.

Ingrown toenails – Mayo Clinic

Get regular medical pedicures, if you have serious foot problems. For example, circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, a tendency to fungal infections, flat feet, and others. It is done using a special apparatus with various nozzles, sterilized or disposable instruments are used.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting shoes with stable heels that do not pinch your toes. This will help prevent not only ingrown nail plate, but also the formation of calluses and corns. It is also worth wearing corrective individual orthopedic insoles, if they are advised by an orthopedist.

Maintain foot hygiene. Wash feet daily, treat shoes with disinfectants. You should not use someone else’s shoes, as well as walk barefoot in public places, especially in pools, so as not to get fungal infections.