How To Treat Ingrown Toenails
In this article, we’ll explain how to treat ingrown toenails. Usually they develop due to a variety of causes, such as: B. due to improper nail cutting, hereditary diseases or bad shoes.
In fact, it is a very common problem, the most common of which is on the toes. However, you can also have ingrown nails on your fingers.
Why do the nails grow inward?
Ingrown nails arise due to an imbalance between the size of the nail and the growing skin around the nail. You should treat ingrown nails as soon as you notice them. Don’t worry too much though, because sometimes you can even treat ingrown toenails at home.
This is possible if the ingrown toenail shows no signs of infection. Signs of infection can include:
- Swelling
- The affected area feels warm
- Oozing
- Bad smell
The infection occurs when the nail penetrates the skin and this allows germs to penetrate easily.
In these non-infection situations, you can try growing the nail. You can also soak your feet in warm salt water. After your foot bath, dry it well with a clean towel, then apply an antiseptic solution to the affected area.
However, if you are unsure whether you can treat ingrown toenails at home, you can also seek treatment from a podiatrist.
They will apply a local anesthetic to your nail. The treating doctor then cuts or removes the infected nail with a minor surgical procedure.
Here’s how to treat ingrown toenails
Soak your feet instead of poking around in them
- Once you realize you have an ingrown toenail, it is time to act. However, never poke your skin to remove the ingrown toenail, as this can only further damage your skin and increase the risk of injury. Instead, soak the affected area in warm soap and water to soften your skin.
- Soaking the affected area will also help soften your nails and better fight the infection. Because an infection is the most dangerous thing about ingrown toenails. For this reason, we recommend using salt water. Because it helps to relieve pain and inflammation. You can soak the area three to four times a day if you think this will help.
- Finally, apply a bandage around the area to create a barrier against bacteria. Also, remember to trim your nails as straight as possible if they stick out again. After all, trimming your nails incorrectly is the number one cause of ingrown nails. We’ll get into this in more detail below.
Take some time to sit on the edge of the bathtub and wash the affected area. Make sure to use antibacterial soap as well.
If the nail is affected, it is important to remove the edge of the nail that is embedded in your skin where it was previously anesthetized. You can then have antibiotic treatment.
How can you prevent ingrown toenails?
Trim your nails properly to prevent ingrowth
Trimming your nails goes a long way towards preventing ingrown toenails. Use a safe nail clipper to cut them in a straight line so that the corner of your nail is visible. If you cut your nails too short, the corners can easily grow into your skin.
Wear comfortable shoes to avoid ingrown toenails
We recommend wearing shoes and socks that are not too tight. In fact, this is another major cause of ingrown toenails.
With that in mind, we recommend that you resort to shoes that leave enough room for your toes so they don’t deteriorate. With the right shoes, your toes should be easy to move.
In conclusion, we recommend never ignoring infections as they can spread and this way lead to further complications.
