How to Fix an Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail can be anywhere from a nuisance to outright misery. Many people have chronic issues with an ingrown toenail and have to have the nail surgically removed; sometimes entirely. The best time to fix an ingrown toenail is when it first starts to hurt. Here's some ways to do just that.

Things You'll Need

• small piece of cotton ball
• tea tree oil
• epsom salt foot bath

Instructions

1. Start with prevention. The number one reason for an ingrown toenail to form in the first place is clipping the nail to short or improperly. Poor, tight fitting footwear can also be a contributing factor as can hyperhydrosis, which is excess sweating. Hyperhydrosis can create the condition of bacteria lodging under the nail and causing infection.

2. Begin to treat the ingrown toenail when you start to feel the first tingling of pain and pressure. Take note of any redness that you see which can be the first indication of infection beginning.

3. Immediately begin a daily regimen of soaking your foot in an epsom salt foot bath. (See resource below for epsom salt bathing usage article for more information on the process.)

4. If the toenail starts to feel like it's digging into the skin; carefully pry the nail up with a file or nail clippers and insert a tiny piece of rolled up cotton ball under the nail edge. Leave a tiny section sticking out as a reminder that it's there and will need replacing. Applying the cotton AFTER the epsom salt foot bath will make it easiest as the nail will be softer and more pliable.

5. As an option to fix an ingrown toenail; the cotton piece can be soaked in tea tree oil. Tea tree is an antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic oil used as a first line of defense in many first aid remedies.

6. Follow this process several days or until the redness, swelling and pain diminishes.

7. See other resources on this page for additional information.

Tips & Warnings

• For more serious infections, or intolerable pain, please see your doctor.

• Change cotton daily. Do not leave in indefinitely !

• For those with diabetes, neuropathy, or other serious conditions; please see your physician to care for ingrown toenail infections.

Resources

• Make a natural antibacterial liquid hand soap
• Prevent and heal cold sores and fever blisters
• Use home remedies for common ailments
• Use epsom salts and why you'd want to !