How to Get Rid of an Ingrowing Toe Nail
An ingrown (or ingrowing) toenail is a painful injury that occurs when the nail, instead of growing out over the skin of the toe, bends in and begins to grow into the flesh of the toe. An ingrown nail can be caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow in the toe, or by improper grooming of the toe. However, the problem can be fixed if carefully tended to.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Tub large enough for foot
- Antibiotic cream
- Bandage
- Nail clippers
- Wide or open-toed shoes
Instructions
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1
Prepare a bath of warm water in the tub.
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2
Soak your foot for twenty minutes, two to three times per day, and then dry it. Soaking will help soften the nail and the skin around it, reducing pain and providing the flexibility needed for the nail to grow out properly.
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3
Apply antibiotic cream to the dry toe after soaking. The cream will help to fight any infections, which ingrown nails are prone to.
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4
Wrap the toe in a bandage until the next soaking. The bandage will work with the cream to prevent infection. An infected ingrown nail will become extremely painful, more so than a regular ingrown nail.
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5
Consult a doctor if problems persist after several weeks of soaking.
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6
Cut straight across the top of your nails when trimming, avoiding cutting into corners. This will prevent nails from becoming ingrown. Only use clippers to attempt to remedy a nail that is already ingrown if you can see the corner of the nail and can clip it with a straight-across cut.
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Tips & Warnings
Wearing wide or open-toed shoes can help alleviate the pain of an ingrown nail and can help prevent a nail from growing further inward.
