What are Ingrown Nails?

Ingrown nails are seen when the edges of the nails extend into the skin close to them. Most cases of ingrown nails are found on the toe, especially the big toe. Ingrown nails cause severe discomfort and, in most cases, especially severe cases might require surgical removal. Studies have shown that anybody can suffer from ingrown nails, male or female. However, people who have a higher chance of suffering from the condition are those who have sweaty feet. Although some other risk factors have been identified to trigger ingrown nails. Some of these risk factors include;

• Poor toe hygiene
• Improper nail cutting
• Wearing tight shoes
• Genetic risk factors
• Irregular nail growth

All of these factors have been identified to trigger the onset of ingrown nails.

How to Prevent Ingrown Nails-Caused Infection

Since removing ingrown nails can cause wounds and mild bleeding, you must take caution while removing ingrown nails at home to prevent the infection of the wound that results from the removal. In addition, it is best not to remove ingrown nails at home if you are diabetic. You should visit the hospital for surgical removal, where proper caution and care would be taken to ensure that your wounds do not get infected and do not worsen your health condition.

This article elaborates on different remedies to help you get rid of ingrown nails at home. Some of these remedies contain natural antibacterial and analgesic properties. These can help eliminate the pain associated with ingrown nail removal and prevent the wounds from getting infected. Thus, whenever you feel the symptoms of ingrown nails or notice that your toenails are about to grow into the skin next to them, you should begin with the home remedies listed in the other parts of this article.

Before delving into the home remedies that can help you eliminate ingrown nails, the question of how you can easily identify a potential ingrown nail comes to mind. The symptoms of ingrown nails are usually obvious and quite noticeable. Below are the possible symptoms of ingrown nails;

Symptoms of Ingrown Nails

Ingrown nails come in different stages, and each stage comes with its level of severity. The stage at which the ingrown nail gets infected is the highest. It is best not to wait until the nail gets infected before you take action. The following are the symptoms of ingrown nails;

• Pain in the nails whenever you press it
• The skin around the nail becomes tender and soft and easy to be penetrated
• Fluid substance in the skin next to the nail

Other symptoms that may arise from ingrown nails, especially when the nail is infected, include;

• Puss-filled sacs on the skin close to the nail
• Bleeding skin next to the nail
• Excess skin growth around the nail

Ingrown nails worsen over time, especially if there’s no attempt to treat them. Thus, whenever you notice any of these symptoms, you should first try to prevent the nail from getting infected and then remove the ingrown nail. On the other hand, if you think the removal or infection prevention is beyond you, or your symptoms have become so severe, you should consider going to visit a doctor for proper and professional care.

Home Remedies for Ingrown Nails

Soak Your Feet

Soaking your feet has proven to be one of the most recommended remedies for getting rid of ingrown nails. This is because it causes the skin to get soft and makes it easier for you to take out the ingrown nails.

Studies have suggested that soaking your feet in warm water is one of the best ways to soften your skin to get rid of ingrown nails. You can add some Epsom salt to the water for this purpose.

Further studies showed that soaking your feet in warm water with a few driblets of apple cider vinegar can also go a long way in setting your skin for making it easier to get out the ingrown nails. This is because it is packed with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial properties that help get rid of infections and pain associated with ingrown nails. All you ought to do is soak your feet in this warm solution for up to 20 minutes and dry your feet thoroughly afterward before trying to get the ingrown nail from your skin.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has a wealth of natural properties like anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. On the one hand, it gets rid of the swelling and pain associated with ingrown nails and also protects the ingrown nails from infection. Because tea tree oil is an essential oil, it might irritate your skin if you apply it directly to your skin.

This is why experts have suggested that diluting tea tree oil with other carrier oils like coconut oil will reduce skin irritation. All you need to do is mix coconut oil with tea tree oil and spread it directly to the affected area of your skin or nail.

If, after doing this, you notice any irritation rather than improvement in the condition of your mail, you should discontinue this remedy immediately or visit a doctor for proper medical attention.

Lemon Juice

The sound of lemon juice on an open wound might be weird. However, studies have shown that the acid in lemon juice kills bacteria or eliminates bacterial infection from ingrown nails. This is why experts have suggested that the best way to use lemon juice for curing ingrown nails, especially infected cases, is by slicing a lemon and placing the cut area directly on the ingrown nails and holding the lemon together with your toe using a bandage or a gauze.

Leaving this remedy on your toe overnight will help you achieve better results faster. Although it may sting for a long time, it will be worth it in the end.

Wear Comfortable Footwear

When trying to prevent or treat ingrown nails, one of the best things to do is to ensure that your footwear is not too tight. This is because wearing tight footwear has proven to be a risk factor for triggering severely ingrown nails. Thus you should change your footwear if the ones you have are too tight.

Also, during the process of healing, ensure that you wear more slippers or sandals and prevent shoes, as this will help the wound heal faster. Exposing the wound to a constant moist temperature by wearing shoes can cause the wound to worsen and can even trigger infection.

Peppermint

Peppermint is an essential oil that is notable for its effectiveness in the treatment of different skin conditions. It is packed with antibacterial properties that prevent wound infection and also properties that speed up the healing process of wounds.

One of the most recommended ways to use peppermint oil for treating ingrown nails is by soaking the feet in warm water for about 20 minutes and applying the essential oil to the ingrown nails as soon as your feet are out of the warm water soak.

Before applying the peppermint oil to your ingrown nails after the soak, it is best to dry your toes thoroughly with a clean and mild towel. To prevent irritation from the essential oil, you can dilute the oil with carrier oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil.

Garlic

Garlic, over the years, has proven to be an effective remedy for different skin and health conditions. This is courtesy of its natural and medicinal properties. Some of the most active agents in garlic are its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which work hand-in-hand to prevent infection and help speed up the healing process of wounds.

Using garlic to treat ingrown nails is one of the best remedies you should consider. All you need to do is blend some garlic cloves, apply them to the affected area of your skin, and hold them to your skin with a bandage or gauze. Experts have advised that doing this daily before bed will help treat the condition faster.

Conclusion

Ingrown nails can be uncomfortable, but knowing remedies that can help you prevent and treat them at home will help significantly reduce the discomfort. If your ingrown nails are severe or you are diabetic, you should visit the hospital and not attempt to treat it at home by yourself.