Treatment and Remedies for Ingrown Toenail

In case of an ingrown toenail condition, there are various home remedies that you can opt for to deal with it. As soon as you are afflicted with the condition, the first thing that you can do is to go for a foot bath at home. Simply pour some water on a basin and add Epsom salt into it. Soak your feet onto the water for at least an hour, rub the affected area to make the skin grow harder and prevent infection from getting in. dry your foot using a clean towel and then apply an anti-bacterial cream into it.

If you want to make sure that your foot is protected, you can put a bandage around the affected toe. Make sure to submit your foot for a bath every night to prevent infection. In case you are experiencing mild pain due to the ingrown, you can apply a painkiller gel to the affected area. However, take note that most of these gels cause a burning sensation so make sure that you can bear with it. You can also opt for OTC pain relievers but make it certain that you discuss this with your physician prior to consumption.

Cutting your toenail properly is another helpful way in relieving ingrown toenail. If you can cut the toenail properly, this will help avoid the condition. When you do, make sure to cut your toenail straight or make sure that the edges are not too close to the skin. In case your toenail has a curve on its edges, make sure that you do not cut it on your own. You can seek the help of a specialist for this purpose to prevent injuring your nail bed.

Ingrown Toenail Treatment

In case the condition becomes painful and infection occurs, it would be best to seek the help of a podiatrist for treatment. If you have poor blood circulation or diabetes, make sure that you avoid self-medicating and treating the condition on your own. For mild toenail infections, antibiotics can be beneficial against the pain and infection. However, take note that this can only provide a temporary relief against the condition and a specialist should still check on the problem.

If the infection is severe, the specialist might need to remove the toenail through a surgical procedure. Prior to this, anesthesia will be administered to numb the affected area. A scalpel will then be used to completely or partially remove the affected toenail. When removed, sodium hydroxide or phenol will be applied to destroy the roots and prevent the recurrence of the condition. A bandage will be tied on the operated toe to protect the area.

The surgical procedure is no longer than 15 minutes and this method can provide a permanent relief against the condition. After the surgery, post-operative care will be discussed and this involves the cleaning of the operated toe and the application of topical antibiotic. Post-operative complications are usually non-existent in this procedure and the recovery period will only take several weeks. In case complications occur, call your surgeon immediately for help.