How to Remove an Ingrown Toenail

If your big toe keeps hurting and the skin bordering your nail is red, irritated, swollen, and tender to touch, you most likely have an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails can be painful and take some time to heal, and you need to be very careful when cutting your nails to remove the ingrown part without causing an infection. Visit Dr. Velimir Petkov at Premier Podiatry Limited if your ingrown toenail is not getting better, and you fear an infection. The expert podiatrist fixes your problem using special tools to remove the troublesome nail and recommends medications to prevent complications.

An ingrown toenail is one of the most common problems a person can experience with their toes. It occurs when the toenail curves downward and grows into the surrounding skin. Constant walking rubs the toes against socks and shoes, which causes further irritation to the ingrown toenail. An ingrown toenail is annoying and often painful.

You can remove an ingrown toenail at home if it is causing pain, difficulty walking, or swelling. Make sure to visit a doctor if your toenail has an infection or does not heal on its own.

What Is an Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the toenail, usually the big toe, cuts or breaks into the surrounding skin, resulting in inflammation. It can also happen when the skin grows over the toenail bed. When a toenail breaks into the flesh, it can lead to bacterial formation and may even lead to severe fungal infection.

Also known as Onychocryptosis, ingrown toenail can happen to anyone at any age, but it is more common in males than females. If left untreated, ingrown toenails can lead to irritation and pain and eventually become infected and cause pain, swelling, and further discomfort.

An ingrown toenail mostly affects the big toe. Removing or cutting a toenail before it grows into the skin can prevent it from becoming ingrown. However, if a nail is already ingrown and causing problems, removing it is the only way to avoid pain and further complications. Gentle home remedies usually work well to reduce the pain.

Read on to learn the safety considerations of cutting down an ingrown nail at home and how you can do it right to prevent ingrowing.

Natural Remedies for Treating Ingrown Toenail

Several natural remedies help to treat an ingrown toenail. If you do not have discharge, pus, or similar signs of infection, you can use any of the following to prevent inflammation and pain.

Give Your Feet a Good Soak and Wash

Make a foot bath with warm water and gentle, unscented soap. You can add Epsom salt for more relief. Soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day can keep the area clean and prevent bacterial growth and infection. It will also soften the nails and skin, making it easier to lift the toenails out and away.

Use Essential Oils

Rubbing essential oils on an ingrown toenail is an effective way to soften and soothe the skin. With their healing properties, essential oils can minimize the pain and help to draw the toenails out of the skin if used regularly.

Soak Feet in Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling and keep away infection. Prepare a foot bath, add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar to water, and soak your ingrown toenail for 20 minutes, at least three times a day, for best results.

Use Dental Floss

You can also use dental floss under an ingrown toenail to shift it in the correct direction so that it starts growing the right way. Ingrown toenails occur when the nail grows downwards into the skin. Start by soaking your feet in warm water, till the nail is soft. Then, take a plain dental floss, roll it in your fingers, and gently push back the skin to lift the edge of the nail away from the affected area.

Place floss under the nail to keep it in place. It will guide the corner of the nail above the skin as it grows. Change the floss every day until the nail no longer digs into the skin.

Wash With Castile Soap

If you cannot soak your foot in warm water or apple cider vinegar three to four times a day, using castile soap just once a day may work. Use castile soap with water to cleanse the nail bed with the help of a soft washcloth.

Clean With Alcohol

If you are guiding the toenail away from the skin, apply alcohol to the affected area to clean it. Alcohol can get rid of any bacteria that have gotten under the toenail and helps to prevent infection.

How to Cut an Ingrown Toenail?

When home remedies do not work or provide long-term relief, cutting and removing ingrown toenails is the best solution. However, it is essential to note that cutting an ingrown toenail incorrectly could worsen the issue and lead to more pain and even infection. If you are not sure about cutting your ingrown toenail yourself, consult a podiatrist for guidance.

Following these steps can help you cut an ingrown toenail the right way.

• Soak your feet in Epson salt or castile soap water for 30 minutes to soften the toenail. It will keep the pain and swelling down after removal.
• Wash your hands before doing anything. Your hands should be clean and dry before you touch or remove your ingrown toenail.
• Push the skin back from the nail border. This can be painful. Do not try and force the skin back further than it will go.
• Cut the toenail straight across, starting at the edge of the toenail. Do not cut from the middle.
• Place a piece of cotton between the nail and the skin to keep it from growing back into the skin. Slightly raise the edge of the troublesome toenail to make the insertion.
• Apply a medicated ingrown toenail ointment to the affected area. You can find an over-the-counter ointment at a local pharmacy or online.
• Bandage the infected toenail to prevent infection. Do not touch it. Chances are it will be painful and swollen, but it will get better within a few days.
• Change the cotton in the toenail twice a day to keep it clean and free from bacterial growth.

If you find this process too challenging or there is too much pain when you try to lift the toenail from the skin, leave it. If the nail pierces the skin, bacteria can enter the wound and cause infection.

Call your doctor or visit a podiatrist if the following symptoms occur in the affected areas:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Bleeding

If your ingrown toenail does not get better in a few weeks, removing it yourself may not be possible.

When Do You Need Medical Help for an Ingrown Toenail?

If your ingrown toenail has become very painful, you are having difficulty walking, or there are signs of infection, it is time to seek medical help. A doctor can determine if your toenail needs trimming or other treatment.

The doctor may remove some or all of the toenail to relieve the pain and discomfort you have been experiencing. They use sterilized equipment to reduce the risk of infection and may use medication to numb the surrounding skin to lessen the pain while trimming or removing the nail.

They may also prescribe antibiotics to treat severe infections. Symptoms that indicate a toenail infection include:

• Redness
• Intense pain
• Significant swelling
• Pus around the nail
• A fever

You must not delay seeing a doctor if your ingrown toenail is causing too much pain and disrupting your routine activities and movement.

How to Prevent Ingrown Toenails

You can prevent ingrown toenails from developing by:

• Cutting your nails correctly – Cut straight across the nail, not rounded at the corners, and not too short. Try cutting your nails after a bath or shower when they are soft.
• Seeing a podiatrist regularly – If you have circulation issues in the feet or cannot cut your nails due to any reason, visit a foot doctor, also called a podiatrist. The specialist can help with problems that affect your feet or lower legs, such as diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, and treats complications like ingrown toenails effectively.
• Maintain proper hygiene – If the skin on your toes and feet remains moist and warm, there are higher chances of developing an ingrown toenail. A fungal infection can also increase the risk. Keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent ingrown toenails.
• Choose footwear that fits right – Make sure to choose footwear that fits right. Shoes that pinch your toes can compress the toenails, which is more likely to pierce the surrounding skin. If the shoes are too loose, the toes may hit against the tip of the shoes and cause pressure, leading to an ingrown toenail. Feet bear the weight of the entire body so make sure they are well placed in the shoes.

If your ingrown toenail is advanced, removing it yourself is not a good idea and may land you in further discomfort. Call Premier Podiatry, the best foot care clinic, and schedule an appointment with Velimir Petkov, a highly experienced and trained podiatrist, for the best treatment for your infected and painful ingrown toenail. Velimir Petkov determines the best option to remove your ingrown toenail after carefully examining your nail and the surrounding skin to ensure a safe and speedy recovery. He also recommends self-care tips, such as cutting nails correctly and wearing shoes that fit well to prevent ingrown toenails in future as well.