A Foot to Stand On

Dealing With An Ingrown Toenail? What You Can Do

If you have an ingrown toenail that is causing you pain and discomfort and you have never had an ingrown toenail before, you may be wondering what you can possibly do to deal with the issue. Many people just let their ingrown toenails go and ignore them, hoping they will go away on their own. However, this is not a good way to deal with the issue. There are numerous ingrown toenails treatments that you can try to deal with the situation and hopefully, resolve the ingrown toenail issue. Get to know some of these ingrown toenails treatment options and give them a try as soon as possible.  

Soak Your Foot in an Epsom Salt Bath

One of the ways to relieve pain and to allow the ingrown toenail to soften and potentially resolve is to soak your foot in an Epsom salt bath. You should do this 2 to 3 times a day for at least 15 to 30 minutes each time you soak it. 

This will help your foot to feel better. It can also allow your toe to "drain" if you have developed any type of infection. However, if you notice draining (pus or clear or colored drainage coming from your toe), you should call a podiatrist as soon as possible. You will likely need treatment to prevent the infection from worsening and spreading. 

Place Cotton Under Edge of Ingrown Toenail

After you have soaked your toenail, it will be more pliable and easier to move. When your toe is still fresh from soaking, try to place a small piece of cotton under the edge of the ingrown toenail (on the side that is ingrown). 

This can help prevent pain but can also encourage the nail to stop growing into the skin and grow "normally" instead. Sometimes, doing this and soaking the toe regularly is all you need to do to resolve the issue. 

See a Podiatrist for Toenail Removal

If your Epsom salt baths and cotton do not help the ingrown toenail resolve itself or you notice those signs of infection, it is time to see a podiatrist for treatment. The podiatrist, along with prescribing antibiotics for the infection, will likely want to remove a portion of your toenail. 

Because this is your first ingrown toenail, they will likely not want to remove the entire toenail (a method used for repeat ingrown toenail issues). Instead they will remove the side of the toenail that is ingrown. This is done under local anesthetic. You will be able to resume normal activities in just a few days after the procedure but full healing will take a few weeks.  

Knowing these ingrown toenails treatment options, you can be sure you take the necessary steps to deal with your ingrown toenail going forward. 


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