Request: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Archived on 10/17/2009
I need some major help. I have an ingrown toenail that seems to be too far grown into the side of my toe. There is a noticeable bump on the side of my toe that hurts really bad. All methods that I have seen posted do not seem to be working.
Is there anything that I might be able to try from home without going to the Emergency Room and having them dig the toenail out? I have been there once and it was expensive with insurance and I currently do not have that. Thanks.
Zachary from Los Angeles
Feedback:
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Best go see a podiatrist. I was married to one, and they are the only medical practitioner who seems to know how to take care of them. Sometimes they will extract the entire edge, if the the ingrowing is chronic (which occurs if the nail has become deformed, or the flesh is chronically inflamed). That should take care of it permanently. The toenail will look perfectly normal unless the proud flesh has created a permanent bump. In any case, it's a whole lot better than recurring suffering. That can become desperately painful. I know. Sometimes all they have to do is create a groove which the growing toenail then follows. They might do this by packing the edge with a bit of cotton until the nail grows out.
But if the nail has a fungal infection, it needs to be treated with an antifungal. Believe it or not, Vicks VapoRub has become the (home) remedy of choice for fungus nails. See Dr. Gott's column.
I myself have to occasionally treat a stubborn deformed nail, and I have found that an infection can be treated with a Domeboro soaks, and Vicks dressings. But you have to be sure that you get the offending nail "spike" that is penetrating the flesh out of the way. If you can't get to it yourself, then be sure to see a podiatrist.
I follow with the Domeboro soaks. The directions on the package say to throw out the soak solution, but we never did, and one can use it over and over again until the problem clears. (I have even taken a wash basin with me in the car to put my foot in while traveling.) Domeboro solution is a wonderful treatment to have at home for any kinds of infected skin, either wet dressings or soaking. It just draws out the infection. (01/16/2009)
By
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I believe the product called OutGrow is now called NailCain. It works fantastically. (01/16/2009)
By Toebeanie
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Get rid of the problem once and for all and you will never have to think about a remedy again. See a podiatrist that is willing to remove both sides of the toenail(a very narrow piece on each side). This is done with a laser in the Dr's office. Your nail will look a little bit narrower, but you can hardly even notice. Do not let the doctor remove the toenail. This hurts like crazy, and it will grow back. You will probably have more ingrown toenails and here you go again with the same old problem. Only do it if they are willing to do the laser and can assure you that it is a permanent fix.
My Dr. said there is only a very slim chance that it would grow into the side of my toe again, but if it did he would redo it for me. It never has caused me a problem. Anything else you do is not worth the pain, but this is. Get both feet done at the same time if you even think there is a possibility it will happen to the toe on the other foot. I had it done about 10 years ago and could kick myself for suffering off and on for all those years. Yes, many of these remedies are good, but only temporary. This is one of the best things I have done for myself. You will not regret it. (08/03/2009)
By Tiny Tina
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Request: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Archived on 01/13/2009
How do I get rid of my ingrown toenail at home? I have it on both big toes and on both edges. Help me!
Maxine from Sydney
Answers:
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Make a paste out of alum and pack it around the nail. It will make the skin around the nail shrink and release the nail. (11/05/2008)
By perfume and powder
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I have this same problem. I always have ingrowns no matter what shoes I wear or how I trim my nails - I just have a problem with my nails. The first thing: Do not cut it out. For months I let them cut the ingrown nail out at the nail salon and they were only getting worse. My toes were swollen and pussy.
When I went to the doctor because it was so bad he explained that when you cut it out you are still leaving it there whether you realize it or not and it is not healing on its own. He told me to let it grow out. It takes about 2 or 3 months. I was supposed to soak every day in Epsom salts for at least 10 minutes. Then put on Neosporin. I also was supposed to be careful about trimming my nails.
He said not to cut them so often and not to bother with cutting the corners on angle, that does not help. He also said not to stick anything under the nails because it will just be more painful. The Vicks does not work. I think you are just wasting your time with most of the above. This is a serious issue - you walk on your feet every day. Give them the care they deserve! Since I have been doing this the amount of ingrowns I have has gone majorly down.
In the last year I have had only 2. Last year when I went to the doctor - in one visit I had over 3. Major change. If you really want to file your nails down nicely there is a Ingrown nail file by Sally Hansen. I have tried it and it does work. You just have to be careful and not push it. Good luck. (11/06/2008)
By Sarah
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I used to have ingrown toenails all the time when I was a child, as did my sister. We soaked our toes every night and stuffed cotton under the nail. They were always very sore.
The last time I had an ingrown toenail, I had that part of the toenail removed by a doctor and it has not grown back. One of the things I now do is to make sure that I cut my toenails straight across. Absolutely, under no circumstance do you angle the nail into the skin.
Be sure to wear shoes that are wide enough at the toes so that they are not cramped into each other.
Sometimes an ingrown toenail is caused actually from the nail having a sort of "hook" into the skin at the sides of the nail (further back on the toe) rather than getting caught in the skin at the end of the toe. Hence the reason to make sure your toes have enough room in your shoes. (11/07/2008)
By Noella
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Look for a product called OUTGROW. It works to take the pain away and then let them grow to where you can trim the the right way. (11/09/2008)
By Toebeanie
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I have literally found the cure for ingrown toenails. Place sterile cotton (soaked in peroxide) under your toenail. It does not hurt at all. Change daily and it will be fine on the 3-4 day. Worked wonderfully for mine which was oozing (gross!) and swollen and a purplish-red color.
Some people say roll it up into a thread but it didn't work for me because it was too late, but this did! Also putting lemon juice works well. (11/22/2008)
By Mandy
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown nail is just an infection of the skin at the nail (look up Paronychia). It may be caused by the nail damaging the skin, but it's just a bacterial infection. Keep the toe cleaned 2-4 times a day with anti-bacterial soap and water, removing any puss or scabs that have formed, clean or scrape under the nail, too. Coat the infected area with triple antibiotic ointment - including under the nail. Pack the toenail up with piece of cotton or a small piece of rolled up white tissue - coat nail and packing with ointment again.
Take three to four L-Lysine tablets every 8 hours until the swelling/infection is gone. L-Lysine can be found "over the counter" where the vitamins are kept, it helps promote healing.
I suffered with ingrown nails for years until I started this routine. The skin healed and the problem never re-occurred. Stay away from semi-sweet chocolate chips, my infections always seemed to linked to them. No matter what the Dr. above says, trimming a "V" in the toenail does help prevent an ingrown nail infection. It keeps pressure off the center of the nail from shoes etc, and keeps the corners of the nail from digging in and damaging the skin.
Allow the toe nail to grow out over the skin in the corners. Don't trim back the corners. Re-start treatment at any sign of swelling/soreness. (11/25/2008)
By RGM
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Tea Tree Oil, melaleuca, is great for keeping an infection down. Also, soaking your toes in epsom and betadine is helpful. Sometimes the ingrown nail is just the edge of the nail cutting into the skin and sometimes its a jagged point broken and poking at the skin. Sometimes you can dig the point out and sometimes it will heal and sometimes it perpetuates the problem. If you damage the skin pulling out the jagged edge it starts a problem that seems to never go away. Healing the infection may be the answer to healing the problem. I hate these darn things. (12/02/2008)
By Steve
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Request: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Archived on 11/05/2008
I recently got an ingrown toenail. It's not pussing, its just swollen, sore and red. What should I do? I'm soaking it often, and know that I might have to go to the doctor, but I'm not sure if I could do anything before hand. Thanks,
Mirriah
Answers:
Ingrown Toenail Remedy
Before you go to bed, put a small wedge of lemon on the toenail, securing it with a band-aid and put on a sock! When you wake up, the nail should be soft enough to ease it away from the skin so that you can trim it.
By MrsMoted2 (05/17/2005)
By ThriftyFun
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I'm thinking that putting any moist item on the nail would give the same result, maybe even a small "wad" of dampened tissue. (05/17/2005)
By Katie A.
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Use Vicks Vapor Rub to soften the nail. (05/17/2005)
By
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I've heard that if you cut a small v-shaped notch in the top middle of the nail, it causes the sides to move inwards. Worth a shot! (05/18/2005)
By Cathy
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
My Mother-in-law swears by her old Native trick and it works believe it or not! Take a small piece of bread and soak it in milk, wrap it over your toe and cover with a sock. Do this overnight and your in-grown nail will be ready to clip with no pain! (05/18/2005)
By Julie
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Are you soaking it in Epsom Salts? That's certainly not the only thing you can use. Make sure the water stays comfortably hot, with either Epsom salts, Betadine, rubbing alcohol, even Borax (20 Mule Team). Soak More. Even though it isn't showing puss yet, use hydrogen peroxide after you're done soaking. Put Betadine on it to keep germs away, then soak it some more. When it's so soft you can maneuver it easily use your pedicure tools to sort of undo. Sometimes you can remove the extra tissue that's there yourself, but only if it's very pliable after soaking in hot water for a very long time. ARDIS (06/18/2005)
By ardis barnes
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Use a cuticle stick to stuff some cotton under the nail. It will hurt, but will lift the nail away from the skin it's digging into. Two days later, it should be feeling wonderful again.
Afterward, don't cut that nail so short again or cut it in a bit of a "U" shape so that the edges of the nail won't be ingrown again as they'll stay longer. (06/19/2005)
By beanygurl
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I notched the middle of the whole nail and never had a problem since- Cathy
(06/19/2005)
By gumbysue
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
This is a sure thing. I have done it many times and it always works. Get some Turpentine Oil. You can get it at the drug store and with a Q-Tip put some on the ingrown toenail several times a day. The next day you will be surprised how it has taken the soreness out. I would never use anything else. Hope this helps you. Thanks Barb (06/19/2005)
By Barbara N
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
This is one I deal with frequently. My right toenail is ingrown because of nail thickness. My left toenail is ingrown from a past injury, it grows in that way. I can fix the right (for months) and the left one I only fix temporarily. Thought the initial "treatment" is painful, relief can be found.
As others posted in various ways, the first step is to clean the area and disinfect it (reducing the swelling). The next step, as others suggested is to find a way to soften the nail as to make it more pliable. Methods of "raising" the nail that I've used:
- Prying underneath the nail with tweezers. In order not to bruise the tissue, do this gradually over a few days--first soaking and then prying. Be genlte!
- Using dental floss to "grab" at the nail (this is much more gentle and effective. However, it can cut into the nail or break it entirely.
Then:
Prop the nail by inserting cotton underneath the corner of the ingrown toenail. This is awkward but very relieving. Once you "raise" a nail, you will notice relief from the pressure immediately (unless the infection is still rampant). By then the concept of the cotton will overcome its awkwardness.
Always cut away dead skin around the nail area. The buildup of dead skins encourages ingrown nails. Never, never trim your nails short. Cut only STRAIGHT across. I always leave my nails a little long for necessary treatments. More nail means more leverage when pulling up the nail. Soak and treat frequently to avoid further problems. Take care of your feet and they'll take care of you
Happy pedicuring!
(08/18/2005)
By bon
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Whatever you do, says podiatrist Glenn Copeland, D.P.M., of Women's College Hospital in Toronto, don't fall for that old wives' tale about cutting a V-shaped wedge out of the center of the nail. "People think that an ingrown nail is too big and that if you take a wedge from the middle, the sides will grow toward the center and away from the ingrown edge. That's utter nonsense. All nails grow from back to front only."(quote)(/quote) (08/01/2006)
By Shane
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
If it gets worse,the easiest thing to do is just get the surgery, it will hurt, but it isn't NEARLY as bad as it seems. I had my whole nail removed. (12/07/2006)
By
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Try baby powder! It works because it draws out moisture and infection fast. (01/02/2007)
By bill.
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Sanding down the toenail until its very thin will assist in getting that ingrown section out. Apply Icy Hot to the ingrown section as well as any swollen section. Within 10 min the pain will cease. Soak in Epsom Salt in hot water for about 30 min. (03/06/2007)
By Rey M.
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
Just have the surgery, it is as simple as that. Not only does the surgery remove the ingrown part, but it also stops it from happening again for like another 50 years. I had the surgery and it is nowhere near as painful as just fixing it yourself.
P.S. If there is a small growth next to the ingrown nail, then you need the surgery. That growth is a benign tumor formed by the infection. (05/28/2008)
By B.
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
My great-grandmother taught me to file the ridge of the toenail a bit each time you trim your nails. This causes the nail to grow towards the center, thus keeping it from growing into your flesh. Give it a try. (07/13/2008)
By Jeremy
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
This wasn't true for me. Once I had the surgery I got it again like 4 months later. I've had the surgery 3 times, it hurts to cut it off. (09/15/2008)
By
RE: Remedies for an Ingrown Toenail
I have had an ingrown toenail now for about 3 or 4 years. I have just adapted to live my live with it. Like many others I don't want the surgery because I am scared of it coming back. I did my research and apparently if you leave them for long enough then they will eventually go away themselves, BUT you have to keep them clean or they will get infected. One way to keep them clean is to bathe them in warm water with tea tree oil added. So I did this and hey presto my ingrown toe nail has gone (not completely, but still better than it was). So I suggest that you try it. (10/22/2008)
By john s
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