Experiencing discomfort in your toes? Noticing redness or swelling? You might be dealing with a case of ingrown toenails. This common condition, while painful and bothersome, can be identified and treated effectively at home in many cases. In this guide, we’ll talk about how to identify and treat ingrown toenails, and when it’s crucial to seek professional help.
What are Ingrown Toenails?
Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail begins to grow into the surrounding skin. This can result in redness, pain, swelling, and sometimes infection. While ingrown toenails can potentially affect any toe, they most commonly happen on the big toe.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
Conditions like toenail fungal infections, trauma to the foot, or simply improperly cutting your toenails can lead to ingrowing. Furthermore, people with curved or thick nails are more susceptible to this condition. By understanding the causes, you are better equipped in knowing how to prevent and treat ingrown toenails.
Recognizing an Ingrown Toenail
So how do you identify an ingrown toenail? Look for the following signs: pain and tenderness in your toe, hard skin around the toe, redness, swelling, or pus. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s likely you have an ingrown toenail. However, if the situation worsens and you start feeling extreme pain or the infection doesn’t seem to subside, it’s crucial to seek professional help immediately.
How to Treat Ingrown Toenails at Home
Before learning how to treat ingrown toenails at home, you need to ensure that your condition is in the early stages and not infected. If it is in the early stages, try soaking your foot in warm water mixed with Epsom salt three to four times a day. Once your foot is soaking, gently lift the ingrown nail edge and place a small piece of cotton under it. Remember to replace the cotton daily, and in due time, you’ll see improvement.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your symptoms worsen, start producing pus, or if you have diabetes or another health condition that affects blood flow to your feet, you should seek professional help immediately. Physicians can offer treatments like prescribing antibiotics, partial nail removal, or even a minor surgical procedure to prevent the reoccurrence of an ingrown toenail.
Preventing Ingrown Toenails
Prevention is better than cure. Proper foot hygiene and regular toenail trimming are key ways to prevent ingrown toenails. Avoid cutting your nails too short or in a rounded shape, and instead aim for a straight-across cut. If you’re prone to ingrown toenails, wear shoes with enough space for your toes to move freely.
Understanding how to identify and treat ingrown toenails is essential to ensure they don’t become a recurrent issue. With proper care, you can alleviate the pain and discomfort of an ingrown toenail and even prevent future occurrence.