Ingrown Toenail Home Remedies
Most ingrown nail problems can be prevented with proper grooming of the toes and by wearing better-fitting shoes.
In fact, if you have an ingrown toenail, chances are you can treat it at home, too. Here are some home remedies to try:
- Soak your feet in warm water. Leave them in there for about 15-20 minutes. You can do this three or four times a day. It’ll make your toe feel less tender and can help with swelling.
- Put dental floss or a cotton swab under your toenail. Once you’re done soaking your feet, put floss or cotton under the ingrown part of the nail. This will encourage it to grow above the skin.
- Put on some antibiotic cream. Apply some antibiotic to your toe and wrap it up in a bandage.
- Pay attention to your shoes. Think about what kind of shoes you’re wearing. If you can, stick with sandals, flip-flops, or other open-toed shoes until your toe heals.
- Take pain medications. Over-the-counter options like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium can ease the pain.
If these home remedies don’t help with your ingrown toenail or you’re worried about it, it’s time to see a doctor. If you notice signs of an infection, like fever or red streaks on your skin leading away from the nail area, let your doctor know. They can prescribe an antibiotic.
If you have diabetes, there’s a higher chance an infected nail won’t heal properly.
Cutting an ingrown toenail
If the steps above don’t help, you shouldn’t try to remove an ingrown nail at home. Let your doctor look at it.
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