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Ingrown Toenail Pain Relief

Ingrown toenails can grow into a painful problem if they aren't dealt with in a proper manner. The condition occurs when an edge of a nail grows into the surrounding skin. People who have naturally curved nails are more at risk for developing this problem. Other factors that can cause ingrown toenails are wearing tight shoes, over-trimming the nail and trauma, such as stubbing your toe.

  1. Temporary Relief

    • An ingrown toenail occurs when a sharp piece of nail digs into the toe, cutting the skin. This often leads to an infection. When you first start noticing redness and pain on the side of the nail, there are a few things you can do to ease the pain. First, wash the toe and keep it clean. The nail may just be pressing into the skin and may not have broken it yet. Keeping the toe disinfected can help prevent an infection. You can soak the foot in a mixture of warm water and a few teaspoons of Epsom salts. This will help to soften the nail, so that it might work itself out on its own. You also can take over-the-counter pain relievers with an anti-inflammatory to take the edge off the pain and swelling. Keep a close watch on the area for any signs of infection, such as pus.

    Visit a Doctor

    • If the toe doesn't get any better or shows signs of infection, it might be time to get to a doctor. An infection can quickly spread and become dangerous. Your family doctor or a podiatrist will be able to properly disinfect the area and assess the severity of the ingrown toenail. The doctor usually will use tools to remove the sharp piece of toenail that is piercing the skin. Without removing this piece of nail, the problem will persist and the toe will not be able to heal.

    Surgical Treatment

    • Usually, simply removing the offending shard of nail is enough to let the toe heal. However, ingrown toenails have a habit of returning. Often, the natural curve of the toenail is what is causing the problem. The nail will grow back and the problem will recur. People who experience recurring ingrown toenails can benefit from having the nail surgically altered. This is usually a simple and quick procedure that can be done in the doctor's office with just a local anesthetic. A podiatrist can cut off a sliver of the nail on one or both sides of the toenails. However, the nail can grow back once it is cut off. The doctor can apply an acid to the nail bed, which will keep the nail from growing back in that specific area. Recovery from this procedure is quick, and usually prevents ingrown toenails from recurring.

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