Top 6 Remedies For Ingrown Toe Nails

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Ingrown toe nails occur when the sharp edges of the nail burrows itself into the skin surrounding the nail and starts to grow inside the skin. This can be very uncomfortable and painful. People often complain of difficulties in wearing shoes, socks and problems in walking.

The condition worsens if the skin around the nail gets infected due to bacterial growth. While the problem of ingrown toe nails can be irksome, it is not insurmountable. You can remedy the problem with these easy home cures.

Remedies For Ingrown Toe Nails

Potassium Permanganate

Soak your feet in a bucketful of hot water. To it add some potassium permanganate salts. These salts help in preventing an infection. The hot water can give tremendous relief from pain arising out of an ingrown nail. Do this for at least 20 minutes, twice daily to reduce inflammation and tenderness in the toe.

Ointments

Apply Neosporin, soframycin or based ointments that are easily available over the counter. Rub them into the wound where the infection has occurred. A mild infection should subside soon after.

Don’t Try To Dress The Wound Yourself

In case of pus formation, you will be tempted to burst the wound and squeeze the pus out. This is unhygienic and unsafe. It is better to get it shown to a qualified podiatrist right away.

Home Pedicures

To prevent the occurrence of toe nails, follow a scrupulous regime of foot care especially if your feet are prone to corns and ingrown nails. Once a week, soak your feet in warm water and scrub your feet well with a good foot scrub.

Clip your toe nails regularly to prevent them from growing out. Remove the cuticle with a good cuticle cream and remover. Moisturize your feet to keep them hydrated. A good foot care regime will keep a host of foot related problems and ingrown nails at bay.

Monsoon Tips

Sloshing around in muddy, dirty pools of water after it has rained is not the best way of caring for your feet. Not only are you likely to catch a host of diseases like leptospirosis but also likely to have rotting feet and infected toe nails. Avoid rain puddles as much as you can and walk on pavements where rain water is not likely to accumulate.

Parlour Hygiene

Beauty parlours are the breeding grounds for bacteria. If you are getting your feet beautified at the parlour, ensure that they follow scrupulous hygiene and that all their instruments are sterilized.

If you have a doubt, walk out. It is not worth the risk. If your infection is severe or if you are a diabetic, see a podiatrist right away. Surgical intervention may be necessary to drain the pus out. You may also be asked to take antibiotics and pain killers to get rid of the infection.