Ingrown toenails are very common.
Because of the irritation and pain it causes, most people notice an ingrown toenail right away.
Treating it early on is key to helping manageinflammationand preventinginfection.
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When infection is present, it’s always important to speak with your healthcare provider orpodiatristto discuss treatment options.
However, there are some well-known home remedies that can help relieve the pain.
One of the first signs of an ingrown toenail is pain around the affected area.
Stage 2: New, inflamed tissue grows around the edges of the ingrown toenail.
This can lead to drainage or pus.
Stage 3: The skin surrounding the toenail is chronically inflamed and is oozing pus.
The inflamed tissue begins to grow over the nail.
Causes
Many things can cause ingrown toenails.
The most common cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail trimming.
Cutting your toenails too short can result in the skin on the sides covering the corners of the nail.
This causes the nail to grow into the skin.
The infection can cause the skin to become very swollen and painful.
A pus-filledblistermay also begin to form.
Paronychia often happens when the skin around a nail is injured or irritated.
This can lead to bacteria entering the nail and causing bacterial paronychia.
If it is caught early, the condition can be treated at home.
In rare cases, the infection may spread through the toe and into the bone.
This is known asosteomyelitis.
This condition often requires surgery or an amputation.
Soak in Epsom Salt
attempt to soak your foot in warm salt water for 20 minutes.
To make saltwater, fill your bathwater enough to soak your toe.
you could also use a clean bucket.
Add 1-2 teaspoons ofEpsom saltto the warm water.
Repeat this two to three times a day to relieve discomfort.
If it’s too painful, lower the amount of Epsom salt or just soak in warm water.
Put antibiotic ointment on the affected area two times per day to help prevent infection.
Keep Your Feet Dry
Aside from daily soaks, your feet should remain dry.
You should also wear loose-fitting shoes or sandals to prevent the area from becoming more irritated.
You should never attempt to cut out an ingrown toenail on your own.
This can be very painful and lead to a serious infection.
They may also order anMRI,X-ray, orbone scan.
Although rare, an infection can become severe and cause serious problems.
A Word From Verywell
Ingrown toenails are painful and annoying.
Once your ingrown toenail resolves, it’s essential to maintain good foot hygiene to prevent reoccurrences.
The toe may also drain liquid or pus.
This should only be done by a licensed medical professional.
Ingrown Toenail: Overview.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2024.
Nemours Kids Health.Ingrown toenails.
Intermountain Healthcare.Caring for an infected or ingrown toenail.
Rapid Care Emergency Room.How to treat an infected ingrown toenail.
