Remedies for Ingrown Toenails

First, there is a HUGE difference between an ingrown toenail and an INFECTED ingrown toenail. The former is often inherited and usually only bothersome with the potential to become infected, while the latter is health or life threatening.

Second, you need to visit a doctor to verify the difference who can, if necessary, offer some type of antibiotic prescription to tackle an infection. I've read of many claiming that they can do home remedy infections, but if you've not been able to do so in over two years, you are WAY overdue in consulting a medical professional in person.

I'm a big fan of home remedies - and learned many from my father who was a Registered Pharmacist - but there are times when we need the help of modern science and medicine.

If you find out that it is not infected, a home remedy that helps to relieve the pressure of the nail and train it to grow more "normally" is really quite simple. It ain't pretty at first, but it has helped my genetically given, non infected, ingrown big toenails look and feel better with time.

Clip a tiny "V" shape in the middle of the toenail above "the quick" i.e.; don't cut into the skin. This allows the nail an opportunity to grow towards the center, rather than towards the edges, and helps relieve the pressure in the process.

Good luck, but please don't continue to let an infection go untreated.

My husband recently had an ingrown toenail that kept coming back. (He got his from stubbing his big toe one night. He actually fractured it.) The podiatrist had to kill the nail bed in that area. A little painful but a quick, permanent fix. You really need to see one, for they will also give you a script for an antibiotic to clear up the infection. Infections can spread and become life threatening. (I lost the bone in the tip of my thumb due to an infection.) Once you've gotten rid of the ingrown, be sure to trim your nails straight across and don't cut them too short. Make sure your shoes aren't too tight in the toe area.

Painless remedy, it's true. Having just recovered from an ingrown toenail. I have some great information for anyone suffering from this painful problem. First, my toenail on my left foot (Big Toe) was the problem. The nail was growing into the toe because I did not properly cut the toenail. By the time I "dealt" with it, the pain was incredible and I could not walk or bump it in anyway without incredible pain. I read on the internet about someone who went to Walmart and purchased some medication that really helped them. I wasn't sure if it would work for me, but needed to try. At Walmart, I found Dr. Scholl's Ingrown Toenail Pain Reliever ($9).

I began treatment and within one and a half days. I was able to cut the nail at a slight angle and pull it out of my toe, painlessly! The first day, the pain was still there, but kept the treatment going (twice a day application). The medication has a numbing medication that not only numbs the area but softens the nail enough so that when you pull it out of your toe, no pain. It was amazing.

Having just been in incredible pain and then to have it gone so quick was great.

Special Note:
Make sure you soak the foot first in warm water and Betadine ($12) to help cleanse and disinfect the area. Dry thoroughly and then apply the medication according to the instructions on the box.

I also bought some diabetes medical socks that helped to relieve the pressure of normal socks during the first day ($6). Everything you can get is at Walmart. I am on my third day after treatment and my toe is a little sore, as it was infected, but the medication is still working it's magic on the area for pain, so the pain is so minimal. Try it.

Many, many thanks to the person who posted the Walmart medication idea that led me to this incredible remedy! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it!

I had the same problem Donna the best way to get rid of a ingrown toenail is if you have one a foot spa it costs about 25-maybe at most 35$ or buy a 5$ bucket from family dollar fill it with warm water add ebson salt. Soak your foot for about 30 minutes every day morning and night after you soak it wrap in a bandaid and neospornen.

I have had a lot of luck with a small piece of paper match book matches. It's more firm than cotton and usually stays in place. Also, you can get finger cots which are small covers that go over injured fingers and you can use the appropriate finger size for your toes. I hope that helps. PBP

I don't have much experience with ingrown toenails. Doctor told me to let them grow out, then cut straight across. That way it doesn't have a chance to ingrow.
Cotton is a fiberous material and tends to stay together. Make sure you have separated it completely by using tiny tiny pieces. Plus keeping it covered like the other response is an excellent way to keep it where it belongs. All the ideas I saw were good. Just adapt whatever works for you best.

I just soaked a piece of qtip end into an antibiotic ointment and stuck it between my toenail and skin....hopefully this will help..

with the cotton ball under the toe, how long did you leave it there ?

I used small tweezers to push a small piece of cotton (with a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide), neosporin, and a bandage. Be careful with any footwear as bumping or putting to much pressure on the toe can cause the swollen part to open up, and cause infections.

Go to the doctor. They can do a simple procedure in the office.

If you can't afford a doctor, here is a simple fix.

Take the end 1/4" of a toothpick and wedge it under the corner. It will hurt for a second or two, but it will take the pressure off and give you some room to medicate it.

Another thing that works is the end of a matchbook or a kernel of rice.
Hope that helps.
PBP

There is an over the counter product that relieves the pain. it is called Dr. Scholls Ingrown Toenail pain reliever. I have used it and it works well.

It is painful but lift the toe corner up and insert the small end of a toothpick, match or something that will hold it up. I have seen people do it with a grain of rice, too. It needs room to properly grow up and not down. When it's healed, make sure you trim your toenails straight across, never curved. Good luck.

This worked for me - cut a v with toenail clippers in the centre of your toenail. Does not have to be deep, just a little v will do it also put a bit of cotton ball underneath the place where the toenail is ingrown. Advise given to me by a surgeon.

Try adding apple cider vinegar to your foot bath water and once you remove your foot dry it well and then the skin should be soft enough to push a little so you should try and relieve pressure from being on your toenail and it may hurt for 1-3 seconds but if you just want to go fast then you can try a line of oragel around the cuticle but wait 2-3 minutes then it should be way less painful and you should be able to remove the nail or add a small piece of cotton/piece of toothpick without pain, also another good way to remove infection is to add a few drops of tea tree oil or polysporin heal fast formula they are both grey for fighting infection just make sure to wrap your toe when going out or sleep so it does not come out. You can also repeat this method after showering or daily to your liking hope this was helpful.

Go to a podiatrist. They are medical doctors specializing in feet. The infection could cause you to lose a toe or worse. They can treat it.

You can go to your family doctor or an emergency clinic but you HAVE to get to a doctor. There's no shortcuts here.

Merv

November 19, 20140 found this helpful

I saw a doctor 30 years ago. He told me to strike a match and let it burn then blow it out. Then remove the black stuff between your fingers revealing now a pointed spear. Poke some cotton wool under the nail using this match. The next day apply more cotton, and so on until the nail gradually starts to rise. A week should do it. Don't remove the previous cotton, just keep applying more. Eventually it will rise enough to cut and remove.

I am assuming you can get to the toes so have someone help. You have to lift the nail up and stick in the end of a toothpick, qtip shaft, or even a piece of rice has worked. Lifting the nail from the skin gives the skin time to heal, and the nail can more easily be trimmed. In the future, keep the nail straight across and never pick them.

My grandson just had to have surgery on both big toenails, which included a very long needle right down the center of the top and one each on the knuckle.
Big strong strapping 22 year old and he cried like a baby and didn't care who heard.
This might sound graphic, but it's something a avoid in the future.

Try to find an ointment called "Unguetyn" at your pharmacy. It is something like an antiobiotic cream. It works everytime.

Cut a V in the middle of the toenail. Lift the outside corners and put a tiny bit of cotton under the nail on both sides. By cutting the V in the nail it will grow inwardly instead of out at the corners. When the V has grown out enough trim your nail straight across, never rounded on the corners.

If the pain isn't too sever yet, lift the edge of the toenail and insert something firm yet pliable. I have used a match book match, cut down after it's inserted. It's too hard to get under if you cut it down to 1/16" before hand. Once the nail is raised, use some Mercuroclear (Mercurochrome's replacement) to cleanse, and anesthetize the infected area. This always works for me. Also, don't cut the nail in a curve, always straight across. This helps a lot.

Good luck.

My girlfriend has ingrown toenails & she gets them taken care of by having a pedicure.

This is an addition to the good advice given by "Poor But Proud" (lifting the ingrown part) but instead of cutting straight, cut with a "V" shape in the middle. Nails have the tendency to grow towards the empty area. Thsi was advice from my doctor years ago and has worked well for me and friends.

Try soaking it in a container of warm water with a cup of Epsom Salts in it. That will draw the infection. Curry etc. sounds like torture. Unless you need a bandage for comfort it is better to expose the toe to the air. Maybe you could wear a sandal or slipper. Soak it like this three times a day. If the infection isn't gone in 2 days see a Dr. Infection can travel and affect your whole body. Then you are in trouble. You can get drops at a drug store that toughen the skin and really help with the pain. I cant remember the name, but they work and have been around a long time. They are just for pain and irritation though, not the infection. Good luck!

Not something to mess with. Chiropodist your best bet. Most GPs will arrange.

After your bath or shower when the nail is still soft, put a tiny piece of cotton under the ingrown part. Don't use too much the first time. This will hold the nail up as it dries. You must keep doing this until the nail is above the side of the toe. It is surprising how little cotton it will take to bring comfort, but it may take a couple of applications until the nail is high enough and you will have to do is periodically to keep the nail from ingrowing again. Hope this helps.