Ingrown toenails are also among the common problems people of all ages face. If you wear shoes that are too tight and don’t allow your feet to breathe, you are more likely to get ingrown toenails.
An ingrown toenail, as the name suggests, is a condition in which the side edge of your toenail grows into the skin. The nail keeps digging into the skin, which causes irritation and pain.
But the right thing is that you can easily remove ingrown toenails by using several treatments, from home remedies to medical surgery. Most of the time, you can get rid of your ingrown toenail at home using home remedies and some over-the-counter medications. But sometimes, you’ll have to get it examined by a doctor if the nail is infected or causing extreme pain.
What causes Ingrown Toenails?
Ingrown toenails are typical in both men and women. Your big toe usually gets affected by this condition, causing severe pain, redness, swelling, and even infection. When your toenail curls and grows into the skin surrounding your toenail, it can occur because of the following reasons:
- Cutting toenails too short
- Wearing shoes that are too tight
- Poor foot hygiene
- Excessive sweating
- Toenail trauma, like stubbing your toe
- Cutting toenails at an angle
- Certain medications containing epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ingrown Toenails
You can prevent ingrown toenails by practising good hygiene and wearing shoes that fit you perfectly. However, if you get an ingrown toenail, you can treat it at home using the following remedies.
- Soak your feet in warm water. Take warm water and wash your feet for about 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this 3 to 4 times a day for a week, which will help lessen the pain and reduce the swelling.
- Pay attention to your shoes. Are you wearing shoes that are too tight? That might be the reason behind the ingrown toenail. Instead, opt for sandals, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes to help heal the ingrown toenail.
- Put a cotton swab or dental floss under your toenail. After soaking your feet in warm or hot water for a week, take a cotton swab or dental floss and put it under your ingrown part of the toenail. It will stop the toenail from digging into the surrounding skin.
- Applying an antibiotic cream. To reduce the infection risk, put some antibiotic cream on your toe and wrap it up using a bandage.
- Taking pain medications. You can take pain medications if the ingrown toenail is too painful. Try any over-the-counter options like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.
Medical Treatment for Ingrown Toenails
If the ingrown toenail has become too painful or you think there’s an infection, you must visit your doctor. After examining your toenail, the doctor will carry out one of the following procedures to get rid of ingrown toenail:
- Your doctor might cut away a tiny part of your toenail. For this purpose, the dermatologist numbs your toe before the treatment.
- Your doctor can also lift your nail using a splint to relieve the pressure. After getting a toenail lift, remove it at home, soak your foot in warm water, and put the sling back.
- If nothing else works, your doctor must remove the whole toenail. You may need to remove some part of your shoe to stop the ingrown toenail from forming again. The doctor numbs your toe in this particular process.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Melbourne
Do you want to get rid of that painful ingrown toenail? Visit Lotus Medical Centre today. We offer a good range of exceptional services to the broader Brunswick community in Melbourne.
Give us a call for any queries or book your appointment.
