How to treat ingrown toenails?
An ingrown toenail occurs when the corner or edge of your nails curves and grows into the surrounding skin, which may cause pain, redness, and swelling. Common causes of ingrown toenails include:
Toenail trauma, such as stubbing your toe,
Wearing shoes that are too tight,
Cutting the nail too short or at an angle.
To prevent infection, it is vital to treat ingrown toenails as soon as they occur. Mild cases may need minor treatment with home remedies, however serious cases may need surgical intervention.
So, how can you treat ingrown toenails? Here are some common home remedies:
Wear comfortable shoes and socks
Wearing shoes and socks that are too tight is considered to be one of the main causes of ingrown toenails. To prevent an ingrown toenail from developing, or becoming worse, wear shoes or socks that leave ample space in the toe bed. During the healing process, try wearing sandals as much as possible to limit the pressure on your toenails.
Soak in warm, soapy water
Soaking the affected foot can help to reduce the swelling and ease pain. You can soak your foot in warm, soapy water three times a day for up to 20 minutes at a time.
Apply antibiotic ointment
Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment or cream can support the healing process and help reduce the risk of infection. Apply the ointment to the affected toenail, and be sure to bandage the toenail after application.
In the case that home remedies do not help, it is important to seek specialised treatment for ingrown toenail at a trusted podiatrist. At Sky Podiatry, we offer the following treatments:
Conservative Nail Care
Conservative nail care can be carried out by your podiatrist with minimal discomfort, and offers relief from painful ingrown toenails almost immediately, with no need for downtime. Conservative nail treatment of ingrown toenails is not a permanent solution; however, it is a great option for higher risk patients, or those who are not ready to commit to saying goodbye to their ingrowing toenails forever.
Nail Surgery
At Sky Podiatry, we offer a permanent pain free in chair solution for sever ingrown toenails, without the fuss of visiting the hospital or a doctor. Our nail surgery treatment is offered in our clinic using Comfort-in™, which is a needle free pain relief. We focus on delivering the finest results to relieve pain and also maintaining the cosmetic appeal of your toenail.
Onyfix
Onyfix is a safe and successful treatment for affected involution of the nail itself. Involuted nails can often be the cause of pain and pressure of the nail sulcus and in extreme cases can result in ingrowing toenails. Onyfix requires no anaesthetic, and no recovery period, allowing you to quickly get back into your sporting and daily activities.
If you are experiencing discomfort and pain from ingrown toenails, and are seeking specialised treatment, book a consultation at Sky Podiatry, and one of our skilled podiatrists will be able to help treat any issues. Call us on (03) 6732 7838 for more information.
