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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staff
You can treat most ingrown toenails at home. Here's how:
- Soak your feet. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day in warm water. Soaking reduces swelling and relieves tenderness.
- Place cotton under your toenail. Put fresh bits of cotton under the ingrown edge after each soaking. This will help the nail eventually grow above the skin edge. Change the cotton daily until the pain and redness subside.
- Use a topical antibiotic. Apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage the tender area.
- Choose sensible footwear. Consider wearing open-toed shoes or sandals until your toe feels better.
- Take pain relievers. If there's severe pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve the pain until you can make an appointment with your doctor.
- Check your feet. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for signs of ingrown toenails or other foot problems.
References
- Richardson EG. Disorders of nails and skin. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115837490-3/0/1584/638.html?tocnode=55690799&fromURL=638.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50087-8_4366. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Paronychia, herpetic whitlow and ingrown toenails. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Zuber TJ. Ingrown toenail removal. American Family Physician. 2002;65:2547.
- Foot care. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/foot-care.jsp. Accessed Jan 7, 2009.
- Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your feet and skin healthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/index.htm. Accessed Jan. 7. 2009.
