We have all experienced the pain from an ingrown toenail, and if you have not yet, you will eventually. An ingrown toenail is often caused by improper cutting of your toenail; if you cut it at an angle or too short, you are bound to have an ingrown toenail.
If your ingrown toenail is causing you too much pain, you need to visit a podiatrist; you can check out your local podiatry clinic or the podiatrist Kensington like Orthotic Solutions Podiatry. Just make sure to schedule an appointment and have your nail looked at.
Talk to your podiatrist if your ingrown toenail is causing you a lot of pain
- Soapy warm water
One of the simplest home remedies for an ingrown toenail is just soapy water. You should soak the affected area to reduce the swelling and pain, and once you have been soaking your foot for about 20 minutes, you should feel much better.
- Apple cider vinegar
There are many things that apple cider vinegar is good for, and one of them is helping with the pain of an ingrown toenail. Prepare some warm water with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and soak your feet for about 20 minutes daily. Dry your feet thoroughly after you are done soaking them.
- Lift your toenail
This does not mean that you should invert your toenail, but using gentle floss or some cotton and placing it under the nail that starts curling into your skin, will prevent it from doing so in the future. Change the cotton daily, but try to keep it under your nail for the longest period.
- Antibiotic ointment
Sometimes, you can use over-the-counter antibiotic ointments or cream and they will help you reduce infection. However, these types of ointments will not help with the main issue they will just ease the pain, so you might be better off visiting your podiatrist.
- Comfortable shoes and socks
Another cause of ingrown toenails is improper shoes, as well as socks. However, if you already have an ingrown toenail, wearing comfortable footwear and socks could help ease the pressure off of your toenail. However, make sure to get your toenail checked as soon as you can, as it might cause even more damage in the long run.
Your shoes might also be causing you harm!
Sometimes the damage that is cause might require you to wear orthotics; if you are interested in the price and how these work, you can check out best custom orthotics Sydney like Orthotic Solutions Podiatry or do some online research to get a general idea.
- Use a toe protector
The toe protector is created to help with an ingrown toenail, and they are available at almost any drug store. However, they are also not a permanent solution, so you will still be required to visit your podiatrist.
- Visit your podiatrist
At the end of the day, you might be required to visit your podiatrist, especially if the toenail pain is causing you too much trouble. A simple podiatry visit could resolve the issue, and in many cases, it is a better option than to try and remove the nail by yourself.
Final word
The best thing that you can do is try not to avoid the inevitable; while using home remedies to ease the pain until you schedule an appointment, you need to visit your podiatrist as soon as the problem arises. Sometimes, by trying to treat your ingrown toenail, you might be causing more harm than good.