How to get rid of an ingrown toenail at home

Methods for treating ingrown toenails: home and outpatient

A disease such as onychocryptosis, popularly known as an ingrown toenail, is known to many, but not everyone knows what to do about it and how to get rid of it.

An ingrown toenail is a phenomenon in which the edge of the nail begins to cut into the side of the surrounding skin. In this case, pain, swelling, inflammation and suppuration appear, which cause a lot of inconvenience and anxiety. To understand how to cure an ingrown toenail, you need to understand the reasons that cause ingrown toenails.

This is what ingrown toenails look like

Causes and symptoms of the disease

There can be many reasons that cause ingrown toenails. Here are the most common ones:

How to trim your nails correctly

Incorrect circumcision. A very common mistake in which the edges are cut off too much. You need to make a cut in a straight line, only slightly rounding the edges so that they do not cling. If you cut the edges too much, they will begin to grow incorrectly, cutting into the skin, which is why an ingrown toenail will form on the big toe.

Wrong shoes, narrow and tight , which compress the toes, put pressure on them and interfere with blood circulation in the foot, resulting in ingrown toenails. This reason can be common with ingrown toenails in a child, if you do not immediately notice that the shoes have become too small.

Flat feet and club feet can lead to deformation and ingrown nails.

Sweaty feet , which can be a hereditary factor, or occur when wearing low-quality shoes. You can get rid of sweating by using, for example, salicylic-zinc ointment.

Heredity. If one of your relatives had such a problem, then there is a chance that you will too.

Fungus. The infected nail plate becomes deformed, thickens and therefore cuts into the skin.

Finger injuries , which, just like fungus, can lead to deformation of the nail, then ingrowth begins. If you have a finger injury, pay close attention to your nail. Ingrowth is easier to prevent than to treat.

A very rare cause is excess calcium in the body . You can get rid of it with the help of special medications and proper nutrition.

What does nail fungus look like?

It is not difficult to determine the symptoms of an ingrown toenail, because pain, redness, swelling and deformation of the plate appear almost immediately. This is the first stage of the disease. At the second stage, infection of nearby tissues occurs, their inflammation, and, as a result, the appearance of pus.

This happens because a nail that grows into the tissue is perceived by the immune system as a foreign body.

It may take several months for the disease to progress to the third stage, when the inflammation already spreads to the bone tissue, becomes chronic, and causes persistent lameness.

Onychocryptosis poses the greatest danger to people with diabetes, since even a slight inflammation in them can develop into gangrene.

Treatment at home

In the initial stages of the disease, you can get rid of an ingrown toenail yourself using pharmaceutical or folk remedies. Here are examples of how to cure an ingrown toenail at home.

Taking a herbal bath

Herbal baths. To prepare herbal medicinal baths, any anti-inflammatory herbs are suitable, for example, rosemary, chamomile or wild rosemary (can be bought at a pharmacy, available without a doctor’s prescription). It is more convenient to take herbs in filter bags, then the infusion will not need to be filtered. Pour boiling water over 3-4 bags, let it brew, and cool. Hold the ingrown toenail in a warm bath for a few minutes to allow it to steam, then carefully push back the skin at the ingrown site and try to cut off the nail. You need to do the procedure several times until it is completely released and takes on its normal shape.

Salt baths. The effect of such baths is similar to herbal ones; they help release the ingrown nail and relieve inflammation. You can use regular table salt or sea salt. The downside is that the salt can sting a little. Salt can also be replaced with soda, crushed furacillin tablets, and potassium permanganate. Do such baths until the disease is completely eliminated.

"Plantain" wraps. Steam the nail in a bath according to one of the above recipes, then wrap it with a clean plantain leaf and bandage it. You need to change the bandage every day and do not forget to file the growing nail. Do the procedure until the inflammation decreases.

Oil compresses. Place a sterile gauze swab soaked in butter or vegetable oil on the cleaned nail and put on socks on top. This procedure should be done every other day; you can alternate it with other methods, for example, with herbal baths.

You can get rid of this disease on your own if you apply Vishnevsky ointment. It relieves inflammation and suppuration well, if any occurs. True, its smell is very specific, not everyone can stand it. Vishnevsky ointment should be applied at night and the nail should be removed and washed in the morning.

All of the above methods have been tested and are effective if the nail is ingrown, but it would still be a good idea to consult a doctor even in the initial stages of the disease. Because the appearance of an infection cannot always be diagnosed independently at home, and untimely treatment can lead to undesirable consequences in the form of complications and suppuration.

Treatment of an ingrown toenail in a child

If a nail has grown into a child’s finger, then it is better in this case to immediately consult a doctor for qualified help.

This problem can occur even in a very young child, so using folk remedies in this case is still not worth it.

The problem of ingrown toenails in a newborn

Now there are a lot of modern methods of dealing with ingrown toenails in children. It is better to give preference to a small operation. It lasts only a few minutes, is performed under local anesthesia and does not require constant dressings.

After such a mini-operation, parents need to ensure that inflammation does not appear. As a rule, doctors advise using a special antiseptic ointment with an antibiotic until complete healing.

Burnt alum for ingrown toenails

Treatment of ingrown toenails with burnt alum at home has proven itself to be effective. This product in the form of a white powder has an anti-inflammatory and drying effect, destroys harmful bacteria and draws out pus.

Treatment of onychocryptosis with this remedy is very common, since burnt alum can be used for severe inflammation and if the site of ingrowth is suppurating. First you need to steam the site of inflammation (you can use the baths described above). Then generously sprinkle burnt alum onto the ingrown toenail and bandage it.

It is advisable to carry out this procedure at night so that the product does not spill out during the day while walking.

During the day, you can make dressings for which you can use the antibacterial ointment “Levomekol”, it will improve the anti-inflammatory effect of alum. The duration of such treatment is about two weeks, but the exact timing is difficult to predict: for some it may take longer, for others less.

You can buy burnt alum at the pharmacy; they are not very expensive, and the effect exceeds all expectations.

Surgical treatment

If the disease is in an advanced form, then it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia, lasts no more than half an hour and does not require hospitalization. Such manipulation will not solve the problem of ingrown toenails forever, so a relapse may occur after some time.

But medicine does not stand still; now there are more modern methods to cure ingrown toenails.

Laser treatment for ingrown toenails

Removal and correction of ingrown nails with laser. This procedure is painless, performed under local anesthesia and lasts about 15 minutes. The laser has a targeted effect, it “evaporates” and cauterizes soft tissue, so relapse occurs much less frequently compared to conventional surgery with a scalpel. The price of this procedure is higher compared to other treatment methods.

Treatment with phenol is cauterization of the site of inflammation under local anesthesia. A very common and inexpensive method.

Radio wave method. It is similar to a laser, only the nail is first cut with a scalpel and then cauterized with radio waves.

The recovery period after these manipulations is from 10 to 14 days; walking is allowed the very next day, but only in soft, loose shoes without heels. You should also use an anti-inflammatory ointment, which your doctor will recommend.

Ingrown toenail correction

Corrective brace on the big toe

Using special medical staples, you can correct the growth of the nail plate. This method is both treatment and prevention of ingrowth.

A medical bracket is installed across the nail (it can be a Fraser bracket, Combiped, Goldstadt, Podofix, etc.), which plays the role of a stretcher, that is, it “forces” the nail to grow correctly. Girls don’t have to worry about aesthetics: after installation, the brace is practically invisible, so you can safely wear open shoes and get a pedicure.

Very often, correction of an ingrown toenail is used to treat a child.

Disease prevention

People prone to ingrown nails should follow a few simple rules to prevent ingrown nails.

Maintaining hygiene. Wash your feet daily in warm water with soap or another antibacterial agent.

Treatment of orthopedic diseases that may contribute to the appearance of onychocryptosis.

Check your feet regularly to spot early ingrowth or possible infection, such as fungus.

Proper nail trimming to prevent disease

Proper trimming: trim the tip of the nail plate first in a straight line, then slightly round the edges.

Give preference to comfortable and high-quality shoes that do not pinch the foot and toes and in which the foot “breathes.”

Adherents of high heels should take breaks from wearing them and alternate with flat-soled shoes.

To avoid infection in public places (for example, in swimming pools), carry replacement shoes with you and be sure to lubricate your feet with antibacterial cream after visiting.

Correcting an ingrown toenail is also a method of prevention, as it prevents relapses.

Treatment of ingrown toenails at home, without surgery

An ingrown toenail is a disease of the toes. Young people aged 20 to 30 are most often susceptible to this (very rarely ingrown nails can be found in children). This disease is associated with the cutting of a sharp corner of the nail into the skin of the finger. When an ingrown nail plate occurs, swelling and redness begin at this site, and then inflammation. All this brings severe pain and discomfort to the person. If an ingrown toenail is not treated, the consequences can be disastrous. Often, new tissue begins to grow at the site of ingrowth, from which yellow liquid oozes.

Need to know: Toenails are peeling - what to do?

In order to avoid serious consequences and not fall under the surgeon’s knife, it is necessary to take urgent measures and treat an ingrown toenail at home. If you take prompt measures, you can cure the disease yourself:

1. The simplest procedure is foot baths . They must be done daily. You need to pour hot water into a basin, lower your legs and soak until cool. The skin will steam and become obedient. Then you need to carefully cut off the ingrown nail and file off the sharp edges, giving it an oval shape.
2. Baths with infusions of medicinal herbs. It's no secret that herbs help cope with many diseases. Ingrown toenails are no exception. Herbs can be used both in collections and individually. The natural antiseptic chamomile has a good effect. It kills pathogenic bacteria, prevents the formation of infection, and relieves inflammation. You can use a collection of chamomile, sage and St. John's wort. Baths must be done every day. The therapeutic effect will be better if you do them twice a day. After steaming, trim your nails and file the edges.
3. Tourniquet. It can be made from gauze or cotton wool. Before using the tourniquet, the legs are steamed. Then you need to lift the ingrown edge of the nail as much as possible and carefully place the flagellum under it. Each time, push it further. The procedure is painful, but it helps a lot. You can get rid of an ingrown toenail in two weeks.
4. Sea salt. Salt is a good natural antiseptic. This method must be used without pus on the finger. Salt will help at the first signs of illness, when there is pain and inflammation, but not a wound. You need to make the following solution: add five tablespoons of sea salt per liter of water, if you don’t have it, you can take table salt, and also pour half a glass of chamomile infusion into it. It must be tightly brewed. When the salt dissolves, dip your finger into the solution and wait 15 minutes. Then carefully cut off the edges of the nail and treat with alcohol.
5. If pus has already formed on the finger, then Vishnevsky ointment . It draws out purulent formations well. The only negative is the strong smell. Using Vishnevsky ointment, you need to make a compress. To do this, take a cotton pad and apply ointment to it. Then it is applied to the sore spot, wrapped in cellophane, which will create a greenhouse effect and will not stain clothes, since the ointment is brown. Then they wrap it with a bandage. This compress is left overnight. In the morning, treat the sore spot with alcohol. Do this procedure until the pus disappears.
6. Alum. Sprinkle them on your nail. Alum will help remove rough skin, and apply either Vishnevsky ointment or Levomekol at night. Within a week, the skin will fall off and the nail can be treated.
7. Glycerin and vinegar essence. Mix them in equal proportions and drop them under the nail with a pipette.
8. Tea mushroom. It is necessary to separate the layer of kombucha and wrap it around the sore finger. Put a plastic bag and warm socks on top. Kombucha will soften the nail. This will happen no earlier than in a week.
9. Fir oil. Make a compress with fir oil at night for a week. It will soften rough skin.
10. Butter. Fill the fingertip with it and put it on the sore spot. Leave overnight. Do the procedure for two weeks. After it, the nail and skin will become soft, allowing them to be processed further.
11. Soda, potassium permanganate. You should take daily baths with a solution of soda or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They disinfect the inflammatory process.
12. Plantain leaf and aloe. Steam your feet in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, apply a plantain leaf or aloe vera to the inflammation, and make a bandage. Do this procedure for a week, gradually cutting off the ingrown nail.
13. Glycerin and iodine. You can purchase a ready-made solution at a pharmacy. It's called Yoduxun. Treat the sore nail with the solution until the pain goes away 2-3 times a day. Then the nail is cut off.
14. Homemade ointment. You need to take a tablespoon of onion, garlic, aloe, butter and honey. Mix these ingredients and cook for a few minutes. When the mixture has cooled, apply to the sore finger, wrap in film and put on a warm sock. Do it for several days in a row.
15. Lamb fat. They apply it liberally to the finger and walk for several days.
16. Lemon and sunflower oil. You need to take a quarter of a lemon, grate it, mix with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Make a compress with this mixture on the sore finger at night. This procedure is carried out every day for a week.
17. Correct cutting and filing. This is the simplest thing you can do at home. Using scissors with straight edges, you need to constantly trim the growing nail, and then use a nail file to make oval edges around the nail. It is best to do this after foot baths.
18. Filing the nail. A cut is made in the center of the nail plate from the edge to the finger. The method is simple and effective. A sawn nail will try to heal the groove. The edges will gradually come out from under the skin. Before the procedure, steam your feet well. The nail plate is sawed down approximately 2/3. This is done using a file or manicure file. This procedure should be carried out once every three weeks. The nail will gradually grow back, the groove will not be visible, and the edges will not cut the skin of the finger.

Need to know: Swelling in ankles

Using these tips you can cure an ingrown toenail. To avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to take emergency measures at the first symptoms of the disease. If there is redness and pain in the area where the edges of the nail come into contact with the skin, then action is urgently needed. You should not expect the pain to go away on its own; this can cause serious inflammation and end up under the surgeon’s scalpel. If a person does not know what the pathology of an ingrown toenail is, he can find out how to treat it at home from a specialist in a beauty salon or a medical professional.

Need to know: Why do my finger joints hurt?

It is also necessary to observe prevention, which consists of proper selection of shoes (they should be loose and comfortable to wear), as well as proper pedicure, which consists of filing the nail in an oval shape. Don’t forget about regular foot baths, which can be with decoctions of medicinal herbs, or just hot water. All this will help keep your feet in excellent condition.

How to get rid of an ingrown toenail - treatment methods

Onychocryptosis (ingrown toenail) is a very common disease that causes a lot of inconvenience and discomfort. The big toes are often affected by this disease. At the first stage of the appearance of an ingrown toenail, a person feels slight discomfort; after a few weeks, this discomfort can develop into severe pain. As a result, it becomes more difficult for a person to walk, swelling and suppuration appear. Therefore, it is very important to start treatment in a timely manner.

Why does a nail grow into a finger - reasons

Before you begin to treat this problem, you first need to understand what causes the appearance of onychocryptosis. As already mentioned, in most cases, ingrown toenails appear on the big toes. But it cannot be ruled out that this problem may also occur on other fingers and toes. The most common causes of this phenomenon:

1. Improper nail care, namely poor-quality pedicure. Many of us are accustomed to cutting our nails in a rounded shape or trimming the edges of the nail at the root, which in no case should be done. This is the most common cause of ingrown toenails. Therefore, you should try to give your nails a square shape. If they are too wide, then they can be slightly filed with a nail file.
2. Inconvenient and incorrectly selected shoes. Most often this concerns women, since they are the ones who love beautiful, fashionable and sometimes very uncomfortable shoes. In addition, the height of the heel plays a big role. If the big toes are constantly under pressure from narrow shoes, and even high heels, then the nail begins to gradually dig deeper and deeper into the skin. As a result, swelling and pain occur. The way out of this situation is to reconsider your shoes and choose more comfortable ones with wider toes.
3. Incorrect nail construction, which in most cases is inherited or as a result of flat feet. Onychocryptosis is a little more difficult to deal with here. Often people with initially irregular nail shape have to consult a surgeon.
4. Significant increase in body weight. This could be as a result of pregnancy or any disease. In most cases, when the weight goes away, the problem itself goes away with it.
5. Various foot injuries, for example, a severe bruise of the big toe, after which the shape and structure of the nail itself changes.
6. Fungal diseases. Due to fungus damage to the nail plate, it can thicken and change shape, and the nail itself can begin to peel.

Treatment at home with folk remedies

You can cure an ingrown toenail at home, but only if the problem has not gone too far, that is, slight pain and swelling have appeared. In case of severe inflammation and suppuration, you should not bother with the question of how to cure a noma nail, but immediately consult a doctor for help.

Firstly, it is necessary to reduce the pressure on the sore areas of the toes, namely, wear more comfortable and wide shoes. And secondly, try to relieve swelling using various baths and lotions.

Then stop trimming your nails incorrectly, as this promotes even more ingrown nails. Remember, trim the nails evenly, without rounding the edges. In addition, purchase straight manicure scissors.

Now let's start with the procedures:

7. Salt baths. Boil a pot of water, let the water cool, then pour it into a bowl, add a handful of sea salt to the water and stir it well. If sea salt is not available, you can use food salt. Remember that you need to keep your feet not in hot, but in warm salty water. The saline solution will relieve swelling and inflammation in the damaged area. You can also add potassium permanganate or furatsilin to a bowl of saline solution; this will disinfect inflamed skin. When, after taking a bath, your nails become more pliable and steamed, wipe the affected areas and a nail file with alcohol, then carefully lift the ingrown nails with a nail file and place small pieces of cotton wool or a bandage under them soaked in peroxide. This will prevent the edges of the nails from sinking back into the wound, and thus the swelling and severe inflammation will subside in the morning.
8. Soda solution. Add soda to a bowl of warm boiled water (for 3 liters of water you need 1 tablespoon of soda), then rub some dark washing soap on your eye and begin the procedure. After your nails have softened, try to remove the ingrown edges and place a piece of cotton wool under them, then secure with a bandage and leave overnight.
9. Butter. Steam your fingers in a soda solution, then generously spread the sore areas with regular butter, cover with a napkin and plastic, and then bandage your fingers. The next morning, remove the bandage, steam your nails again in a saline solution, remove ingrown nails and place cotton wool or a bandage under them. This procedure must be done daily for two weeks until the ingrown toenails grow back.
10. Aloe leaf. Cut the leaf in half, hold the aloe over the fire with the cut side up, and then apply it to the sore spot. Cover the top with film and bandage your finger. The next morning, remove the bandage and try to lift the ingrown edges.

Treatment by other means

Today, there are several methods of surgical treatment of this problem. Most of them not only eliminate the cause of the disease, but prevent its recurrence.

Surgical removal

Removing the entire nail. This is a very painful procedure. For some reason, most doctors only recommend it, although after complete removal of the nail you are not immune from the fact that after full growth it will begin to grow back again. In addition, the nail itself takes about 9 months to grow. In the first month after removal, you will experience severe pain, as a result of which it will be painful for you to walk. So if you do not have time for a long recovery, then it is better to refuse surgery.

Regional resection. This method is the most effective; it involves removing the edge of the nail, as a result of which this problem disappears forever. After this procedure, the nail itself is slightly reduced in width, but this does not spoil its appearance. This procedure can also be done using a laser.

In any case, no matter what method you choose, be sure to make sure that your doctor is professional. In addition, after the procedure, careful wound care will be necessary.

Correction of ingrown toenails with plates

Recently, the procedure orthonyxia has become very popular. Orthonyxia is the correction of an ingrown toenail using special corrective systems, which include plates and staples. This solution to the problem will only help if the ingrowth and curvature of the nail is not too advanced. This technology helps to change the shape of the nail and return it to good condition. The correction and treatment process lasts from 6 to 9 months after the installation of plates or braces.

Radio wave removal

This method is painless. The procedure does not require much time and is possible even on the day of visiting the doctor. Before radio wave removal, the doctor gives one injection of a local anesthetic into the finger, after which the fused part of the nail is removed. Another advantage of this method is that there is no need for stitches or hospital stay after this operation. After the procedure, the doctor applies an aseptic dressing and prescribes independent dressing changes. Recovery occurs in 3-7 days.

What to do if an ingrown toenail festeres?

If the ingrown toenail begins to fester, then no folk remedies or home treatment will help. Here surgical intervention is already necessary. It is best to immediately go to see a surgeon so that he can examine the problem area. Otherwise, the problem may worsen, which may lead to serious problems.

You can learn more about the treatment of ingrown toenails in the video below:

How to get rid of an ingrown toenail

Wearing tight shoes is a common cause of various defects on the toes and soles. Some pathologies are associated with nails. The sharp edge of the plate grows into the soft tissue due to constant pressure. The area of ​​the finger becomes red and swollen. There may be pain when walking. It is important to take timely measures to prevent further development of the pathology.

Preliminary preparation of the finger

Experts call the ingrowth of nail plates into soft tissues onychocryptosis. The disease is not always provoked by wearing shoes with narrow toes. Other causes include improperly done pedicure, injury, blows or fungal infection. It is important to know how to get rid of an ingrown toenail to keep your fingers healthy.

Experts warn that it is not always possible to cope with the problem on your own. As a rule, you can remove an ingrown toenail at home at the initial stage of the pathology. If the surrounding tissues are damaged, it is better to consult a specialist. There are several modern minimally invasive techniques. In severe cases, surgery will be performed.

Removing an ingrown toenail at home is carried out only after preliminary preparation, which consists of several stages.

11. Cleansing. During manipulation there is a high risk of infection. Therefore, feet are thoroughly washed using antibacterial soap.
12. Disinfection. The necessary instruments are treated with an antiseptic solution. You can use chlorhexidine or regular ethyl alcohol.
13. Steaming. The removal procedure will be less painful if you first soften the skin of the periungual fold. For this purpose, make a hot foot bath.

Only after preparing the legs can one begin to eliminate the defect. Doctors warn that you should not try to get rid of onychocryptosis on your own in the later stages of the disease. If swelling appears and the pain becomes permanent, you cannot do without consulting a surgeon.

Mechanical nail removal at home

You need to get rid of an ingrown toenail gradually. It will not be possible to free the plate from soft tissue in one step, and even slow actions usually cause severe pain. The difficulty of home treatment is that the sharp corner of the nail plate must be fixed in an elevated position. If this is not done, it will continue to grow into the periungual fold.

At home, the defect is removed in the following way. After steaming the feet in hot water, the edge of the damaged nail is carefully lifted. The procedure is quite painful. Place a sterile gauze soaked in oil under the nail plate. This will keep the nail in the correct condition. It is prohibited to remove the gasket for a long time.

To avoid infection, use a new piece of gauze every day. The bandage is gradually pushed further and further, freeing the corner of the nail. When the plate is long enough, the edge is cut off with nail scissors. It is important to avoid the appearance of sharp corners. For this purpose, use a sanding file.

There is another way to fix an ingrown toenail. Part of the plate is completely cut off. Next, wait until the nail grows back to the required length. You can consult a doctor to install a fixing bracket that will hold the plate in the desired position.

After removing the ingrown nail, bandages with antiseptic agents are applied for several days. Can be used:

14. Vishnevsky ointment;
15. Levomekol;
16. Ichthyol ointment;
17. alcohol solution of furatsilin.

This measure will prevent the development of inflammatory processes in the soft tissues of the finger and will avoid serious complications.

Removal of an ingrown toenail for minor damage is carried out using traditional methods. There are several recipes that are aimed at softening the plate and slowing down inflammatory processes.

18. Aloe leaves are used to effectively soften the skin. The pulp is applied to the toe and left under a gauze bandage for 8-10 hours.
19. Lotions with soda solution are useful. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of water. Soak a gauze pad with the resulting liquid and apply it to the affected area. The recipe allows you to relieve swelling, which speeds up the removal of ingrown toenails at home.
20. In order to soften not only the skin, but also the nail itself, use a self-prepared ointment. It consists of granulated sugar, lamb lard and laundry soap shavings. The mixture is applied to the nail, and the finger is carefully wrapped to retain heat.
21. Experts advise using compresses with fir oil. The product not only promotes softening, but also has antibacterial properties.

If an ingrown toenail appears, removal of the defect is necessary. The growth of the plate does not stop, and the soft tissue continues to be damaged. Traditional recipes help speed up recovery. In case of onychocryptosis, the plate itself must be removed mechanically.

Modern methods of treatment

Onychocryptosis in advanced stages is accompanied by pain. It is impossible to solve the problem without medical help. There are modern minimally invasive techniques that avoid surgical intervention. The most effective among them are discussed in the table.

Methods for treating ingrown toenails at home

Ingrown toenails are a condition where a nail grows into the flesh rather than above it. Typically found in toenails.

People with curved or thickened toenails are most susceptible to this problem, although ingrown toenails can be caused by injury, ill-fitting shoes or poor hygiene.

People with diabetes, vascular problems or numbness in the fingers should be especially careful because ingrown toenails can lead to serious complications, including the risk of losing a limb.

Ingrown toenails can be very painful and sometimes require medical attention. If your ingrown toenail has become infected, you should not try to treat it yourself. In this case, you should make an appointment with an orthopedist.

If there is no infection, you can try treating ingrown toenails at home. Here's what you can do:

22. Make a salt water bath and soak your ingrown toenail in it for 15 minutes a couple of times a day. This will help relieve pain and swelling in the area of ​​the ingrown toenail. Dry your feet completely after each bath.
23. If the pain is very severe, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
24. Gently pull the skin away from the nail using a small nail file or other non-sharp tool that won't cut your finger.
25. Place a small piece of clean, damp cotton cloth between the ingrown toenail and your skin to help separate them. You can dampen the cloth with a little water or antiseptic solution.
26. Apply antibiotic ointment to your finger to reduce the chance of infection.
27. Choose spacious boots with a wide toe. Try wearing sandals if weather conditions permit. Avoid shoes that put pressure on your toes.
28. Check your finger daily for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pus, and increased pain.
29. If treating your ingrown toenail at home does not help, you should make an appointment with a podiatrist, who may suggest surgical removal of the ingrown toenail. This will solve this problem forever.

Simple treatment of ingrown toenails with folk remedies

Vinegar is a very good folk remedy for treating any type of infection. So if you have doubts about whether your ingrown toenail is infected, use home remedies for ingrown toenails with apple cider vinegar or even regular vinegar.

30. Add vinegar to water.
31. Soak a toe or hand with an ingrown nail.
32. Soak your finger in this solution for approximately 15-20 minutes.
33. Remove the finger and dry it properly.
34. Repeat twice or thrice daily.

If you are unable to bear the pain and swelling in your finger or toenail due to an ingrown toenail, treating your ingrown toenail with home remedies such as Epsom salts will help. It can reduce discomfort, swelling and fight ingrown toenail infection.

35. Take 2-4 tbsp Epsom salt. (2 tablespoons for every liter of water).
36. Add to water, preferably warm (1-2 liters).
37. Hold your finger in it for 20-25 minutes.
38. Remove your finger from the solution and dry.
39. Repeat 2-4 times a day.

If you have tried traditional methods to treat an ingrown toenail but do not see any signs of improvement, go to the doctor, even if you do not observe any visible signs of infection. It can be difficult to separate the symptoms of an ingrown toenail from the signs of infection; both have striking similarities such as redness and swelling.

How to get rid of ingrown toenails with essential oils

Essential oils like tea tree oil work wonders in conditions where there is a high chance of infection in any part of the human body. This is due to the antibacterial and antifungal properties of this oil.

Ways to get rid of ingrown toenails using tea tree oil:

40. Add 2-4 drops of tea tree oil to warm water. Immerse your foot in this water and hold for 15-20 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a day. Don't forget to dry your fingers after taking a bath.
41. Take 2-4 drops of tea tree oil and add to 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Massage the ingrown toenail with this mixture. Once the oil is absorbed, you will see your skin become softer and your ingrown toenail will be less bothersome.

There are many essential oils that not only have analgesic properties, but also have an antiseptic and disinfectant effect.

Mixing these oils or using them individually may provide some relief from ingrown toenail symptoms. Here are some essential oils that may be helpful in treating ingrown toenails at home.

Clove oil is widely used to treat skin infections. Please note that more than 1 drop of this oil may irritate the skin, so it is best mixed with olive oil. Lavender soothes irritated skin. Rosemary oil has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effects.

How to get rid of ingrown toenails using these oils:

42. Take one or more of the oils listed above (1 drop each).
43. If using just one oil, take 1 drop and apply to the ingrown toenail.
44. If using more than one oil, mix a drop of each and apply to the sore finger.
45. Repeat 2-4 times daily as needed.
46. Within 2-4 days, the pain, swelling and redness around the nail should decrease.

If you do not feel any relief after this time, consult your doctor.

Prevention as a remedy for ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails are most often caused by cutting them improperly (too short or with rounded edges) or by wearing ill-fitting shoes and tight hosiery. Injuries from sports such as tennis, football and basketball can also cause the toenail to grow into the skin.

An ingrown toenail may initially cause only minor discomfort, but it can cause infection in the surrounding skin or become a recurring problem.

Prevention is often the best cure for ingrown toenails. There are many ways to prevent your nails from curling and growing into your skin.

47. Wear well-fitting shoes (they should not pinch your toes).
48. Trim your nails correctly (not too short and in a straight line).
49. People with diabetes should carefully examine their fingers for ingrown toenails and, if any are found, contact a podiatrist immediately. He will recommend the right ointment for ingrown toenails or another remedy.
50. A good preventive measure against ingrown toenails is to maintain foot hygiene. Try to keep them dry at all times (except when taking a bath), and if your nails show signs of fungal infection, apply tea tree oil. The warm, moist environment of the feet can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi (staphylococci, dermatophytes, candida and others). If there are microtraumas in the skin from an ingrown toenail, these organisms can invade the damaged area and cause an infection.

Diabetics who have an ingrown toenail are better off not practicing home treatment for ingrown toenails as their feet require expert medical care and treatment. The same is true for people who suffer from other leg conditions or poor circulation in the legs.

How to use drops for ingrown toenails

Drops (such as Uriel Ingrown Toe Nail Drops) are the newest treatment for ingrown toenails.

Benefits of drops for ingrown toenails:

51. Guaranteed pain relief.
52. It is a good tool for softening ingrown toenails and surrounding tissues for easy treatment.
53. After application, protects the affected area.

How to use drops:

• Apply to the roughened area of ​​the nail for a few minutes.
• After this, use a file or tweezers to pry off the ingrown nail, which becomes soft and loose.
• In some cases, repeated application is required, but most often drops for ingrown toenails help the first time. Nails that have not yet grown deeply into the skin straighten on their own after using the drops.
• This product should not be applied to an open wound.

Non-surgical treatment of ingrown toenails with castor oil

Castor oil has many benefits for the human body. It is used for massage to relieve muscle tension, spasms and cramps. And castor oil and soda are used for non-surgical treatment of ingrown toenails.

• Take baking soda and add castor oil to make a paste.
• Apply this mixture to the ingrown toenail.
• Wrap a bandage over it.
• Remove the bandage after a few hours.
• If you feel pain or burning, stop using the product immediately.
• If everything is fine, repeat the non-surgical ingrown toenail treatment daily to get rid of the ingrown toenail.

Good to know: how to treat ingrown toenails at home

Following fashion trends, there is no time to think about the impact that tight, narrow shoes or synthetic fabrics have on your health. This often leads to fungal infections or pathologies of the nail plates. Such troubles include an ingrown toenail, which not only looks unaesthetic, but also causes serious discomfort. Therefore, the question of how to treat an ingrown toenail at home always remains relevant. Moreover, there are several ways to eliminate the problem without surgery.

Ingrown toenail: folk remedies for its treatment

The causes of pathology of the nail plate are most often fungal infections that destroy it. At the same time, the direction of its growth changes. In such cases, it will certainly be necessary to treat the fungus after removing the ingrown part of the nail. Wearing narrow and tight shoes, heredity and unprofessional pedicure also lead to deformation of the nail plate and a change in the direction of its growth. But no matter what situations lead to this phenomenon, you need to start acting as early as possible. So, how to treat an ingrown toenail at home?

Treatment depends on the stage of the disease. At first, an ingrown toenail does not cause much discomfort. However, an abscess and purulent lesion of the soft tissues located around the problem area can very quickly form. Therefore, begin procedures immediately, since advanced forms require serious and long-term treatment using antibiotics. There is a simple but effective remedy for ingrown toenails.

To begin, you need to steam your feet in a bath. For five liters of hot water, add salt, iodine and soda in proportions of 4: 1: 2 tablespoons, respectively. Keep your feet in the solution until the water cools completely. Using this composition for a bath will not only soften the nail and tissue, but also disinfect the wound, and after the bath, the pain will subside somewhat.

Next we need glycerin oil (can be replaced with butter). The softened nail should be carefully lifted in the place where it is ingrown, and a small cotton wool, generously soaked in oil, should be placed under it. Also make an application of oil on top of the nail plate, wrap the whole thing in cellophane and leave it overnight. Procedures should be carried out until the nail plate is completely restored. Remember this simple recipe, and then you will know how to treat an ingrown toenail at home.

You can take a different route to fix the problem. After the bath, carefully grind the nail parallel to the ingrowth border until it opens like a book. Apply oil applications daily until the ingrown part of the nail comes out of the soft tissue on its own.

To ensure that you no longer have the question of how to treat an ingrown toenail at home, take preventive measures. This includes timely treatment of various foot and nail infections, compliance with hygiene rules, wearing comfortable shoes and hosiery made from natural fabrics. Get pedicures only from specialists!

Treatment or removal of ingrown toenails at home

Sometimes a situation arises when you have to wear tight shoes. This already causes certain inconveniences. But if such shoes also have a pointed toe, and you have to stand and walk all day at work, then this can lead to real problems. Tight shoes cause constant pressure on the toes, nail plate and its base. Such exposure can cause a disease, medically called onychocryptosis, the popular name for which is ingrown toenail.

How and how to treat an ingrown toenail

Onychocryptosis is characterized by spontaneous ingrowth of the nail plate into the soft tissue of any finger.

It should be noted that if the nail has grown deeply into the skin and the pain is unbearable, then you should go to the surgeon, and not experiment with a variety of folk remedies.

Treatment of ingrown toenails at home can be done independently in the initial stages of the disease, when there is slight redness and mild pain.

To cure such a disease, traditional medicine has a number of recommendations. They answer the question: how to treat an ingrown toenail? These include the following tips:

Traditional medicine recommends this remedy for disinfection and relief of the inflammatory process.

19. Lotions using fir oil.

    At the same time, the inflammation is relieved and the nail softens.

20. Butter.

    Fill the fingertip with butter and place it on the sore finger. Do the procedure every evening before bed for 2-3 weeks. When the pain goes away, carefully lift the edge of the ingrown nail plate and place a small roll of gauze under it. Change this lining every evening.

21. Homemade ointment.

    To prepare it, you need an equal amount of lamb lard, fine sugar and laundry soap. Mix thoroughly until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Apply the resulting mixture to the nail. Cover the top with gauze or bandage and cling film. Leave overnight. Repeat until the nail plate softens.

22. Pharmaceutical chamomile.

    During the initial stages of ingrowth, a chamomile bath has a disinfecting and softening effect. To obtain an infusion you need 6 tbsp. l. Pour two liters of boiling water over the flowers and, covering the container, let it brew for one hour. Keep your finger or entire foot in the heated solution until it cools. Then place a gauze swab under the edge of the bent nail, which can be moistened in an iodine solution. For such baths, it is possible to use a decoction, the preparation of which requires boiling the flowers for 10 minutes.

23. Tea mushroom.

    It is advisable to use vinegar that has been steeped until it turns into vinegar, but normal kombucha will also work. To do this, you need to peel it off and wrap one of these thin leaves around the inflamed finger, as well as the surrounding area. Place cling film on top and put on two socks. First simple, and then wool. It is better to perform the procedure at night.

    Within a few sessions, the inflammation of the ingrown toenail subsides. At the same time, the fungus softens the nail plate.

    Very good video from Dr. Vlad:

    In addition to the above remedies, they use a solution of potassium permanganate to steam out an embedded nail, use aloe pulp as a lotion, or perhaps apply birch mushroom - chaga - at night. The use of such tools is presented in the video.

    An ingrown toenail in the photo shows swelling and discoloration of the finger.

    Each time after performing any procedure that softens the nail plate, the cut tip is carefully cut off with thin nail scissors.

    However, there are situations when the inflamed part of the soft tissue festers, and it is not possible to see a doctor. In such cases, you can use Levomekol or Vishnevsky ointments, having previously treated the inflamed area with hydrogen peroxide for disinfection.

    Burnt alum, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, is also a good remedy for treating ingrown toenails.

    They appear as a white powder. This is a remedy to combat various inflammatory processes that cause infections. Does not cause allergies. Used for eczema, ulcers and purulent lesions. After steaming the ingrown nail in a disinfectant solution, burnt alum powder is applied in large quantities to the site of suppuration. Apply a tight bandage over it and leave it overnight. The procedure is repeated until the suppuration and redness of the skin disappear.

    Is it possible to treat without removing an ingrown toenail?

    There are several ways to remove an ingrown toenail without resorting to removal:

24. To do this, you will need a triangular needle file (small file), which must be wiped with alcohol for disinfection. Then make a cut in the form of a hollow along the entire nail from the very tip to the cuticle. Determine the depth of the cut visually, but not more than 2/3 of the thickness of the nail plate. The result will be a kind of book in which the edges of the nail serve as pages. They themselves will strive to rise up, as if closing a book. During this process, the end of the nail, which has cut into the skin, independently emerges from the soft tissues.

If the big toe is injured , the thickness of which is much higher than the others, you can use a piece of hacksaw blade to make a cut.

On the little finger, this process can be performed using a manicure file. The thickness of the saw cut is controlled visually. Moreover, as the nail plate thins, it becomes pinker in color than the unaffected front part. Further fusion of the nail plate (“pulling” towards the center) will correct the direction of growth. It is better to file the central part of the nail after taking a bath or specially softening it using baths.

Since the plate grows by 1 mm in about 10 days, repeated procedures must be carried out once a month.

Removal of ingrown toenails at home, incl. on the foot

Keep in mind that cutting out an ingrown toenail can be quite simple. However, this phenomenon will recur periodically. It is necessary to change the direction of growth of the nail plate.

How to remove an ingrown toenail and get rid of this problem is of interest to everyone affected by this problem. But it is possible to perform such a process at home only at an early stage, when the ingrown nail has not damaged anything, the skin does not swell much, there is no pus or bleeding wound. To perform the procedure, preliminary steaming or softening of the plate is required. The folk remedies listed above will provide indispensable assistance to this action. In order to cut off the part embedded in the pulp, you need disinfected thin scissors. Perform the mini operation carefully so as not to damage the upper layers of the skin. The cut piece can be reached and pulled out using tweezers.

But you need to know that you can do this yourself only in the early stages.

Is it possible to detect the disease at an early stage, symptoms

Changes in the growth of the nail plate are one of the reasons for its ingrowth into the skin.

At the ends of the fingers there are many nerve endings that are sufficiently sensitive to causing pain. This is exactly the effect of a curved nail that grows into soft tissue. If an ingrown toenail appears on your big toe, then this manifestation is constantly disturbing, reminding you of itself with sharp pains with almost every step. This may cause the person to limp.

If no action is taken at the initial stage, when redness of the soft tissues appears and itching and mild pain begin to be felt, then further damage can lead to the formation of ulcers and suppuration. These characteristics are inherent in the second stage of the disease.

If the inflammation process lasts a long time, then the shine of the nail plate disappears and it thickens at the point of contact with the tissue.

This phenomenon may be accompanied by overgrown granulation tissue, which people called “wild meat”. This manifestation leads to increased pressure of the nail plate on soft tissues. At the same time, the number of inflamed ridges may become larger and suppuration affects more and more of the finger. These are symptoms of an ingrown toenail in the third, chronic period of the disease.

Causes and prevention

The causes of ingrown nail plates may be as follows:

curvature of the big toe due to transverse or longitudinal flat feet;

frostbite;

injuries received, including from wearing tight shoes;

improper pedicure or manicure;

changes in bone growth due to arthritis;

swelling of the legs due to poor circulation;

fungal diseases of the nail plates;

the presence of excess calcium in the body, which leads to a change in the direction of nail growth;

genetic features of the direction of growth of the plate.

At the current level of its development, medicine cannot say for sure why a toenail or fingernail grows in. However, the above list includes almost all possible causes of this phenomenon.

To prevent such an unpleasant disease, you need to follow some recommendations:

Do not wear tight or constrictive shoes, as this contributes to the process of deformation of the nail plates.

In order to trim your toenails correctly, cut them smoothly, without strong rounding of the corners and not very short.

Maintain personal hygiene. Wash your feet at least once a day.

Do not wear low-quality shoes and synthetic socks, which cause your feet to sweat a lot.

When visiting baths and saunas, have replaceable personal shoes.

Avoid various injuries that may occur due to inattention.

If a nail grows into the big toe, then curing this phenomenon at an early stage is often not difficult. However, if you waste time and leave treatment for later, this can lead to very unpleasant consequences in the future.