If your toenail is painful, red and irritated around the edges, you may have an ingrown toenail, says the Mayo Clinic. Ingrown toenails occur when the corners of the toenail dig into the sides of the toe, causing pain. As the skin around the toenail swells, the nail may cut into the skin. If you experience extreme pain or infection, consult a doctor. Otherwise, you can reduce the irritation of your ingrown toenail with home remedies.
Soak the Foot
To help reduce the pain of an ingrown toenail and soften the nail, soak the foot in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Fill a large bowl or tub with warm water, or fill your bathtub with several inches of water and submerge your foot completely. Soaking the nail will help reduce swelling of the area around the nail and soothe your aching toe. Soak your foot three times a day to help heal your ingrown nail.
Cotton
After soaking the foot in water, place a small piece of cotton between the toenail and the toe, recommends California practitioner and author of “The Foot Book,” Frederick Hass, M.D. The more the toenail digs into the foot, the more swollen the toe will become, creating a cycle. To break this cycle and promote healing, pull a small piece of cotton from a sterile cotton ball underneath the corner of the nail that is irritating your foot. Change the cotton once a day. Once the toe has been cushioned from the sharp nail, it will begin to heal.
Antibiotic Gel
Place a small amount of antibiotic gel, available over-the-counter at the drugstore, on the skin around the nail once a day, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Antibiotic gel will prevent the afflicted area from becoming infected. Coat the skin with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, then bandage the area to help cushion the area from your shoe. Wear loose or open-toed shoes while your ingrown toenail is healing to make the area heal more quickly and prevent further irritation.
