How to Treat Ingrown Fingernail & Fungus
Ingrown toenails and nail fungus feel uncomfortable and leave you embarrassed to expose your bare feet in front of others. If untreated, they can also lead to serious infections. Don't let ingrown nails and fungus keep you from wearing your opened-toed shoes in public, hanging out at the pool or beach, or playing footsie with your sweetie. With a little patience and care, you can relieve the unsightly and unhealthy problems that plague your pedal extremities. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Toenail antifungal topical medication
- Cotton swabs
- Tea tree oil
- Cotton balls
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Bandages
Instructions
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Ingrown Toenail
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1
Soak your feet two to three times daily in steaming hot water with a few drops of tea tree oil added. Tea tree oil will soften the skin and help loosen the ingrown nail. Dry your feet and, with a cotton swab, dab the affected nails and the areas around the nails with tea tree oil, which has antiseptic and antibiotic properties.
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2
Lift up gently on the ingrown nail and stuff a small wad of cotton underneath. Leave the cotton for a day then remove and replace the cotton. Elevating the nail will eventually retrain it to grow above, rather than into, the skin.
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3
Cut the nail straight across, leaving a bit of the white at the end showing. Do not cut the nails too far back and do not cut the outer edges farther back than the fronts.
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4
Wrap the affected toe with a bandage before putting on shoes, if necessary to prevent discomfort. Wear comfortable, ventilated footwear and avoid tight socks or hosiery.
Fungus Treatment
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File the affected toenails gently with a nail file to allow for better penetration of the medication.
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Treat the affected toes with liquid topical nail antifungal medication. Paint the nail and surrounding skin with the medication, using the applicator brush attached to the lid. Apply the topical solution with the thickness of nail polish. Consult the particular brand's directions, as application methods may differ.
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Clean feet daily and allow them to dry thoroughly. After drying, apply tea tree oil to the areas affected with fungus.
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Remain barefoot as much as possible to keep your feet dry and to prevent moisture from promoting further fungal growth. Change socks daily, for shoe-wearing.
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Keep shoes dry by storing them in a ventilated environment, such as on the front porch or out in the sun. Eliminating moisture from shoes prevents an environment conducive to fungal growth.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult a doctor if nail fungus is extensive and causes pain, as prescription antifungal medicines or even surgery may be necessary.
Consult a doctor for severe cases of ingrown nails. In some instances, such as when the ingrown nail is deeply embedded in the skin, minor surgery may be necessary.
Do not share shoes or towels with others, as fungal spores may spread.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
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Comments
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A big thank you for sharing about How To Deal With Black Toenail At Home.Black toe nail is nothing but a bruise occurring in the nail bed due to excessive pressure on the toenail nd a blunt lesion of the toe resulting in leakage of blood from the capillaries running beneath the toe. blacktoenail
