Treatment
Treatment At Home:
If the ingrown toenail is not advanced and is still in the early stages, it can be treated at home. Here are some home remedies for ingrown toenails,
Soaking Your Feet:
For about 10 to 20 minutes soak your feet in a bucket of warm water without adding soap, shampoo or any other agents into the water. Soaking your feet can help in relieving the swelling caused by the ingrown toenail.
With Soft Cotton:
After you finish soaking your feet, take a bit of cotton and place it under the corner of your toenail. This will bring the edge of the nail above the skin and will keep it elevated. This may cause you a bit of pain but it is essential to prevent the toenail from growing any further into the skin. Be sure to change the cotton everyday and it may take a period of two weeks before the toenail finally grows over the skin edge.
Wear Good Footwear:
Make sure that your footwear isn't tight fitting or pressing against your toes. You could also wear open toed slippers or sandals until the condition is treated. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen may also be taken if you are experiencing intense pain.
Medical Treatment And Surgery:
If the ingrown toenail is causing a lot of pain and pustule discharge, then your doctor may remove a part of it to stop further swelling and infection. Your toe will usually be numbed before the toenail is removed
If the ingrown toenail causes a severe infection, then the entire nail may have to be removed. Your doctor would first numb your toe and then drain any pustule discharge from it. After this he would remove any extra tissue around the toenail and also remove the portion of the toenail that is digging into the skin. Finally your doctor may chemically destroy the tissue and cells that are responsible for the nail's growth so that it does not grow again. A laser may also be used for this purpose.
