Ingrown toenail is a real pain. It’s a nail which curves and grows into the skin at the sides of the nail often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe. This might cause to bacteria infection leading to drainage and foul odor. The toenail turns red and swollen and starts causing you a lot of discomfort, chronic ingrown toenails require the services of a podiatrist.

The initial treatment for ingrown toenails can be safely performed at home. However, once infection is detected you need clinical treatment especially for those who have medical conditions that put feet at high risk, such as diabetes, nerve damage in the foot, or poor circulation.

At initial stages you can start the treatment at home by soaking your foot in room-temperature water (adding Epsom’s salt), and gently massage the side of the nail fold to help reduce the inflammation. One should not try “bathroom surgery.” Repeated cutting of the nail might worsen the condition.

If the home remedy does not help then you might have to show it to a foot and ankle surgeon who will select the treatment best suited for you. If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed.

Sometimes a minor surgical procedure can ease the pain and remove the offending nail. After applying a local anesthetic, the doctor removes part of the nail’s side border. Some nails may become ingrown again, requiring removal of the nail root. This require bandage till the wound heals.

The small surgical procedure all the instruments should be cleaned with alcohol or Betadine. First soak your foot in warm water mix with povidone iodine or Betadine solution for minimum 10-15 min to make it soft. Them dry the foot thoroughly and then insert the nail clipper under the nail border. Clip out the ingrown toenail at a slight angle, without cutting the skin. Go as close as possible to the ingrown nail, grasp its corner and gently pull it out, once the nail is cut. Wipe te area gently with alcohol or a Betadine-soaked gauze pad or cotton swab. This might require bandage.

You should soak your toe for 20 minutes each day in the Betadine solution for three days, or until soreness is gone. After soaking, dry gently and apply an adhesive bandage and some antibiotic cream. Also insert a sliver of cotton between the nail and the skin, for a few days to keep pressure off the toe. Remove the cotton as soon as the nail begins to grow out and away from the toe.

One should always wear loose shoes or go barefoot as much as possible, while your toenail is healing so as to eliminate any pressure from pushing against your toe.