How to Treat an Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown toenail can be painful, red, and swollen, and it can lead to an infection that must be treated by a doctor. There is good news though—many ingrown toenails can be treated at home before they require a doctor’s attention.
What are the symptoms of an infected ingrown toenail?
A mild ingrown toenail can feel hard and swollen. If the nail grows into your skin, or the skin grows over your nail edge, bacteria can enter, and the nail may become infected. The symptoms of an infected ingrown toenail include:
- Liquid or pus coming out of your toe
- Pain
- Redness or darkening of the area
- Swelling
- Toe feeling warm or hot
What causes ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails can have many causes. These may include:
- Trauma to your toe, such as a smash or a break
- The shape of your toenail may be the cause of the skin to grow around it
- Toenails that are cut too short or rounded. The nail may grow into your skin.
- Improperly fitting shoes
- Tearing the corner of your nail
Treating an ingrown toenail
Ingrown toenail home treatment includes several simple steps, says PIH Health Podiatrist Aleena Resendez DPM. She suggests following these steps to help manage the infection and prevent further ingrown toenail pain:
- Soak your foot in warm water mixed with Epsom salt or dilute 2 ounces betadine in 1 gallon of water twice daily.
- Keep your foot dry the rest of the time.
- Gently lift the edge of your nail. Place a small piece of cotton between the nail and your skin. You can also use dental floss under the ingrown toenail. Change the cotton or floss every day. This will help your nail grow above the edge of your skin.
- Use an antibiotic cream and a bandage.
- Wear roomy shoes or sandals.
- Use pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if needed.
How to remove an ingrown toenail
If you have signs of infection or a severe ingrown toenail, don’t attempt to cut it yourself. If you cut the nail, the condition may get worse. If symptoms aren’t getting better with home remedies for an ingrown toenail, see a healthcare provider.
If you aren’t sure that you can treat the ingrown toenail at home, a podiatrist can perform the procedure under a local anesthetic.
Visit PIHHealth.org to learn more about podiatry and make an appointment today.
Aleena Resendez DPM
Aleena Resendez DPM is a podiatrist with special interests in podiatric surgery, sports medicine, diabetic limb salvage, wound care, and biomechanics. Her passion for medicine began while studying Biochemistry at the University of California, Riverside, where she learned more about the physiochemical processes that occur on a molecular level within the body’s development. Dr. Resendez chose her specialty because it is very gratifying to have an immediate impact on the quality of patients’ lives, allowing them to get back on their feet, participating in the activities they enjoy.
Dr. Resendez is dedicated to caring for her patients through a variety of nonoperative therapies and takes time to help patients understand the cause of their symptoms. When surgery is necessary, she explores different operative modalities that are specifically tailored to each patient based on their work, hobbies and lifestyles. While training during the pandemic, Dr. Resendez conducted research on a foot monitoring device to assist with early detection of diabetic foot ulcers in the veteran population.
She prides herself in practicing evidence-based medicine to treat patient’s underlying symptoms for long-term relief
View Dr. Resendez' Profile
