The Quick and Easy Fix For Your Ingrown Toenail

Dr. Brian Nagy | September 15th, 2017

Posted In: Ingrown Toenails

The quick and easy fix for your ingrown toenail is proper foot care. Keeping your feet clean and wearing shoes that fit your feet are two of the most important aspects of general foot care. There are many simple things that you can do in addition to caring for your feet that will help to heal existing ingrown toenails and prevent new ones from forming. If you are prone to ingrown toenails, you can use these tips one at a time or several at once to minimize your risk.

Epsom Salt Soaks

An ingrown toenail is caused by the flesh growing over the edge of the toenail. As the toenail grows and digs into the skin, lesions can form and infections develop that can cause extreme pain and discomfort.

Epsom salt soaks soften the skin and the nail, allowing both to be more flexible and pliant. After removing your feet from the soak, gently pull the skin back and away from the edge of the nail.

Antibiotic Ointment

Check your feet often for signs of infection or any type of abnormality. At the first signs of an infection, cover the area with antibiotic ointment and place a small bandage over the area. The ointment will destroy existing bacteria while the bandage will prevent new bacteria from entering the wound.

Keep Feet Dry

Keep your feet as dry as possible. It’s understandable that your feet will sweat while they are in shoes. Wear cotton socks that breathe more efficiently when it comes to moisture and being confined in shoes. As soon as you are able, remove your shoes and give your feet a chance to dry. This is extremely important if you know you are prone to infections, especially those that are associated with ingrown toenails.

Wear the Right Shoes

The right shoes are the key to correcting most foot problems. If you suffer from ingrown toenails, choose shoes that are easy on the feet and allow your toes the room they need to be comfortable. Avoid shoes with pointed toes or that are extremely restrictive. High heels should also be avoided, if possible.

It’s also important to choose the right type of socks. Your feet remain in your socks and shoes for eight to ten hours (sometimes longer) every day. They should be comfortable and allow your feet to move as freely as possible.

Walk Barefoot

Your feet were designed to support your body on their own, without the benefit of shoes. While you wear shoes the majority of the day, it’s important to give your feet a break every day where they can function naturally.

Walk barefoot and allow your feet to function naturally. This provides your feet with the freedom to move without restrictions. Many times, an ingrown toenail is caused by the pressure of repeated contact between the toe and inside surface of the shoe which results in calluses or blisters that force the skin over the edge of the nail.

Surgery

In cases where an ingrown toenail is the result of an abnormally shaped nail or excess skin growth, Dr. Nagy may need to surgically remove the additional flesh or reshape the nail. Reshaping the nail will allow it to grow properly and eliminate your risk of an ingrown toenail. This is often the last resort, but may provide longer lasting results than other non-invasive methods.

It’s a quick and easy minimally invasive procedure that takes only 15-minutes! Learn more in the resource below.

If you are prone to ingrown toenails, there are many things you can do to correct the problem and minimize the risk of having them in the future. Make an appointment with Dr. Nagy at Nagy Footcare if you have an ingrown toenail and need to know what can be done to fix the problem and relieve your discomfort.

Contact the office today to schedule a consultation and get the treatment you need that will allow your feet to feel their very best.

At Nagy Footcare, our best day is when you wake up with no foot pain.