Ingrown toenail not only causes pain and discomfort, it also increases risk of secondary toenail infection. Fortunately, ingrown toenails can be easily treated with the help of simple home remedies. By taking appropriate care of the affected toe at the early stage when the symptoms are mild not only helps in providing fast relief but also helps in preventing further complications.
To Get Rid Of The Ingrown Toenails Fast, You Can Rely On The Following Home Remedies:
Warm Foot Bath
The simplest way to get rid of the ingrown nail is to take a warm foot bath for 15 to 20 minutes four times a day. For best result, add sea salt or Epsom salt to the warm water. The foot bath helps in reducing the redness, swelling and pain. It also helps to soften the nail, thereby helping the nail to grow normally.
Cotton Ball
After the foot bath, if required carefully trim the toenail. Take a little cotton and gently insert it underneath the corner of the affected nail. You may even use a small piece of dental floss instead of cotton. This will help to remove the nail from the skin.
Olive Oil
For fast relief from ingrown nail, apply olive oil to the affected toenail two to three times a day. Saturate the nail and the cuticles with the oil. By softening the skin, the oil treatment helps in raising the nail above the skin. Furthermore, olive oil forms a protective barrier on the skin that helps in preventing microbes from penetrating the nail bed. Olive oil also acts as a mild anti-inflammatory agent and helps in reducing the pain and swelling. To prevent infection, add few drops of tea tree oil or oregano oil to the olive oil.
Lemon
Wrap the affected toenail with a thin slice of lemon. To hold the lemon in place, cover it with gauze. Leave the lemon slice overnight on the toe. The lemon juice will help to soften the skin and will protect the nail from fungal infection. With regular application, it will help in restoring the normal growth of the toenail.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a common household disinfectant that can be used to treat ingrown nail. Mix half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with warm water and dip your feet in the hydrogen peroxide solution. It makes the skin soft and also helps in preventing nail infections.
