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Everyone has had an ingrown toenail at least once in their life, and that is why you need to know how to treat it, and why does it happen. Sometimes, you can treat the ingrown toenail at home, but there are also other cases where it might be causing you too much pain, and you should know what you need to do.
Maybe, the best option is to visit your podiatrist, and in that case, you should check out Podiatrist Randwick by Orthotic Solutions Podiatry or your local podiatry clinic. However, not everyone is able to visit their podiatrist on time, so you should also know what you can do at home.
Ingrown toenails can sometimes be caused by shoes that are too tight at front
Why does it happen?
When the edge or the corner of your toenail curves and starts growing into the surrounding skin, you will get a condition called an ingrown toenail. This can cause redness, swelling and sometimes pain. It is very common to have an ingrown toenail, and some of the most common causes of this are:
- Trauma to your toenail, like stubbing your toe
- Wearing shoes that are a bit too tight
- Cutting your toenails at a bad angle
- Cutting your toenails short
Most common ingrown toenail remedies:
- Warm soapy water
Soaking your feet in warm and soapy water will reduce the swelling and ease the pain. You can soak your foot three times a day up to 20 minutes a time. Using castile soap is the best option and you can also add Epsom salt to the water.
- Apple cider vinegar
You can also consider soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar, as it is believed that this will have an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and pain relieving abilities. To try this out, you should combine basin of warm water with about one-fourth cup of apple cider vinegar, and then soak your feet for about twenty minutes a day.
- Dental floss and cotton
TH podiatry clinics will usually recommend taking a small dental floss or cotton ball and tucking it in the small parts of the ingrown toenail, which will lift the toenail and allow it to grow out properly. However, not every medical group will agree with this remedy.
If you are still unsure of what you should do, you can ask a foot doctor Sydney like Orthotic Solutions Podiatry or contact your local podiatry clinic and ask them for help instead. Every podiatrist has a different remedy to offer, so find the one that suits you the best.
- Apply antibiotic ointment
You always have an option to use the over-the-counter antibiotic ointments that tend to help promote healing and reduce the possibility of infection. Use the ointment on the affected toenail area, and follow the instructions that are provided.
- Comfortable footwear
It is important that you always have footwear that fits you well and is comfortable because in most cases the reason why we have problems with your feet is because of bad shoes. Well, it is important that you have comfortable shoes and socks!
Final word
If you have tried these and some other remedies, and nothing seems to work, then it might be time to actually visit your podiatrist. In some cases, you can make the situation worse if you overdo it with the home remedies, so stick to one remedy, do not experiment too much. If you still feel discomfort and pain, you need to visit your podiatrist.
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