Ingrown toe nails are a common problem chiefly found in athletic adolescents and children. Primarily the big toe is affected and the edge of the nail grows sideways into the skin of the toe. This abnormal extension of the toenail presses into the surrounding skin causing pain and discomfort by poking and pinching the outer edge of the toe. The toe becomes red and sore and very painful as the nail folds, the toe swells and there is drainage of a clear yellow fluid.
The protruding nail may cause a break in the skin leading to infection and inflammation. The inflammation further aggravates the injury and pain by causing the thickening of the nail skin fold. Some people are simply prone to developing ingrown toenails and some risk factors are poor foot hygiene, injury or trauma to the feet, tight and narrow shoes, congenital foot deformity, very long toenails, malformation of the toenail, obesity, diabetes, fungal nail disease, toenail infections and excessive foot sweating.
5 Ways To Treat Ingrown Toenail
Hot Water and Mustard Oil
Fill a basin with hot water and add three teaspoons of mustard and two teaspoons of salt to it. Soak your foot with the ingrown toenail into it for half an hour. Mustard and salt will work together to relieve the inflammation and to alleviate the pain. They will also eradicate any vestige of infection and heal the irritated skin quickly.
White Vinegar
Bacteria and fungi can easily infect the skin of the nails and feet and further exacerbate the condition. The feet provide a perfect warm and moist environment for such microbes as Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Candida and Trichophyton microbes to flourish in and cause infection.
Take equal quantities of white vinegar and hot water and soak your affected foot into it for ten to fifteen minutes twice daily. White vinegar will make short work of all types of microbes and bring relief in the pain.
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Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is full of magnesium sulfate which is very helpful in a variety of conditions. It soothes aching muscles, relieves menstrual cramps, improves nerve health, alleviates anxiety, and replenishes the skin with magnesium and acts as a disinfectant.
Fill a foot bath with hot water and add one cup of Epsom salt to it. Soak your foot into this solution for twenty minutes twice daily to get relief from the soreness and pain and to get rid of any infection as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for ingrown toenails because it helps to balance the pH levels and reduce the acid level in the body. Soak a cotton ball into some apple cider vinegar and place it directly over the ingrown toenail. Tape it in place with a duct tape and keep it overnight. In addition to this, you should also mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of warm water and drink it once everyday.
Turmeric
Heat some ghee and add some turmeric powder to it to form a paste. Smear the paste all over the affected toe and place a piece of cotton gauze over it. Bandage the whole with another piece of cotton gauze and keep it overnight. Do this each night to heal the ingrown toenail.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.