Having an ingrown toenail can be painful. There are a few different methods to remove an ingrown Toenail, ranging from home remedies to surgical removal. Before you try any of these methods, you should first numb your toes. Once you’ve done that, you can cut away a part of the nail.
Treatment
To prevent an ingrown toenail from becoming infected, there are a few things you can do at home. First, make sure you are washing your feet thoroughly on a daily basis. This will remove any dirt and bacteria. Also, apply moisturizer to your feet. This is important not only for your face but for your toenails too. It is also a good idea to use a nail file. This will prevent broken nails and keep them from snagging on socks or blankets.
If non-surgical measures do not work, a simple procedure to remove the ingrown toenail may be necessary. It may require the use of a local anesthetic. After the operation, the doctor will remove the ingrown nail section, leaving the rest of the nail intact. In the meantime, the skin around the nail plate must heal.
In a clinical trial, 15 patients underwent ingrown toenail surgeries. Their ages ranged from twelve to 35, with an average of 20 years. The surgeries were performed in a hospital between December 2013 and May 2015. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association, and all patients gave their informed consent.
Prevention
Prevention of ingrown toenails is an important part of nail care. To avoid this problem, you can use cotton wool or dental floss to keep your toenail from getting ingrown. You should also avoid picking at your toenail. If you notice that your toenail is getting ingrown, you should visit a podiatrist to get the appropriate treatment. Severe cases can require surgery.
If an ingrown toenail is not severe, you can try treating it at home with an antiseptic ointment or Epsom salt soak. This can help prevent infection and keep your toenail from getting thicker. However, if you have an infection, it is best to visit your doctor for further treatment.
The most common cause of ingrown toenails is improper nail clipping. You can also develop this condition if you wear tight shoes or hosiery. You should also avoid picking the corners of your toenail. People who have large or curved toenails are also more likely to develop an ingrown toenail. Additionally, ingrown toenails can be caused by injuries.
Home remedies
One of the simplest ways to treat an ingrown toenail is to soak the foot in warm water containing Epsom salts. These salts contain magnesium, which fights inflammation. Gently massaging the affected area with salt will relieve the pain and swelling. This treatment can be repeated two to three times a day for 15 minutes. Another treatment involves applying hydrogen peroxide, a natural disinfectant commonly used for wound cleaning.
Various medications can also help ease the pain associated with ingrown toenails. Pain relievers can be purchased over the counter or prescribed by a doctor. Symptoms can include fever and red streaks of the skin leading away from the nail area. If left untreated, the ingrown toenail can become infected and cause more discomfort, especially for diabetics.
Another option is to soak the affected foot in hydrogen peroxide. This disinfectant is an excellent choice for treating ingrown toenails because it works by softening the skin around the lesion. It also helps in preventing infection, making the painful condition less unpleasant. You can also soak the affected foot in white vinegar two to three times a day for 15 minutes.
Surgery
Surgical treatment for ingrown toenails can be performed in the doctor’s office or an operating room. Patients will need to remove their shoes and socks and lie on their backs. The toe/finger will be covered with a surgical drape. The ingrown nail will be removed. The patient will likely need to take pain medication, which can include acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Surgery to remove an ingrown toenail involves removing a portion of the nail matrix, or nail bed. The nail is numbed with a numbing medication, then the surgeon cuts away the ingrown portion of the toenail, creating a straight edge. The cells underneath the nail matrix will try to grow a new nail. After the surgery, the skin is reshaped and the toe is bandaged until complete healing has occurred.
Conservative treatment options for an ingrown toenail can include lifting the edge of the nail and placing sterile cotton underneath. However, these treatments are not ideal and may lead to infection. The risk of infection is much higher if you try to use a sharp object on an ingrown nail. Also, you should avoid using needles as they can infect the skin and make the condition worse.
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