How to Treat Ingrown Nails

An ingrown nail, also referred to as onychocryptosis, occurs when part of the nail begins to grow into the skin surrounding it. The result is a painful pressure in the skin that can sometimes lead to an infection.
While ingrown nails can occur for variety of reasons, the most common is improper nail trimming. Cutting a nail too short encourages the skin along the sides of the nails to fold over, which can lead to an ingrown nail.
Some ingrown nails can be treated at home, but more severe ingrown nails may require medical treatment. As ingrown nails are often a recurring problem, those who have experienced an ingrown nail before should take preventive measures to prevent problems in the future.
If an infection is present or the condition persists, medical attention should be sought.

Things You'll Need

• Deep bowl
• Epsom salts (optional)
• Betadine (optional)
• Tea tree oil (optional)
• Nail clippers

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Instructions

• 1

  Fill the deep bowl with warm water, enough to cover the infected nail when placed inside of the bowl. If choosing to add tea tree oil, Betadine, or Epsom salts, it should be added to the water at this time. Stir to dissolve, if necessary. Tea tree oil is a natural anti-bacterial treatment, while Betadine is a medical anti-septic solution found at most drug stores. Epsom salts contain magnesium, which aid in the reduction of inflammation.

• 2

  Soak the affected ingrown nail. Soaking the area helps to reduce swelling and inflammation. It also softens the skin surrounding the ingrown nail making trimming the nail easier.

• 3

  Remove the ingrown nail after 10 to 15 minutes of soaking and completely dry the area.

• 4

  Carefully and gently lift the ingrown nail from the skin with the nail clippers. Clip the nail straight across, if necessary. Avoid cutting the nail at an angle, as it will increase the chances of a recurring ingrown nail problem.

• 5

  Continue soaking the feet up to 4 times a day for 1 week if cutting the nail straight across is not an option. If the pain, inflammation or tenderness persists beyond 1 week, medical attention should be sought immediately to avoid infection.