An ingrown toenail can cause significant pain and discomfort. As podiatry experts recommend, these proven strategies can help prevent it or address it early at home, though professional care is essential for severe cases.
For early-stage ingrown toenails, gently lifting the nail edge can stop it from embedding further, allowing healthy regrowth over the nail bed.
Read also: “Tips against discolored nails”
Consult your chiropodist, podiatrist, or general practitioner. They can use a cotton ball, small bracket, or rubber gutter to elevate the nail slightly. Once the nail grows out sufficiently, the device is removed.
An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail edge pierces the skin, leading to inflammation, redness, swelling, and possible pus-filled wild flesh. This makes walking painful. Common causes include tight shoes, improper trimming, and excessive sweating.
Avoid picking at long toenails; use nail scissors to cut them straight across instead. Discard tight-fitting shoes and opt for cotton or wool socks to manage sweat. During sports, consider toenail protectors to prevent toe impact against shoe fronts.
If pain intensifies, with redness and swelling, infection may be setting in. While antibiotics might be needed, start with soothing soaks to ease symptoms.
Soak your feet in a baking soda bath for about 20 minutes daily. Note: This reduces inflammation and pain but doesn't cure the ingrown nail—see your doctor promptly for proper treatment.
For advanced cases with severe pain, a doctor may remove part of the nail.
Options include wedge excision (removing a triangular section of nail and bed) or partial nail avulsion (excising a long strip). The latter often involves phenol to prevent regrowth.
Source: Santé January 2019. Text: Mara Ruijter
