Ingrown toenails are considered one of the most popular side effects of opting for the unsuitable footwear which does not fit your feet. The shoes that look good might not be the right ones that feel good, and choosing style over comfort could cause pain now and then.
Actually, ingrown nails do not just occur to your toes, but also your fingernails. They happen less commonly in fingers as you are not squeeze your fingers into the shoes that do not fit well. In addition, your fingernails’ shape makes it less prone to becoming ingrown. Yet, if there are ingrown fingernails, it is because improper trimming of the nails, despite nail biting or an injury to the hand tearing the nails could also be the culprit.
Whatever the causes of ingrown nail are, they range from annoying to excruciatingly painful. And, if your ingrown nails have become infected, you should not try to treat it yourself. Instead, go to see a podiatrist.
In case your ingrown nail is not infected, then you could try some home remedies to know how to treat an ingrown nail infection naturally and prevent the condition from recurring. Yet, remember, treating an ingrown nail requires patience, time and a few tools, yet you could take care of most ingrown nail at home. Here are some of the best home remedies for ingrown nails, collected by WikiYeah! Some information in this entry is referred from WebMD, Emedicinehealth, and Howstuffworks.
How To Treat An Ingrown Nail Infection – 8 At-Home Remedies
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
When it comes to at home tips on how to treat an ingrown nail, hydrogen peroxide is one of the most effective. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant, which can help the skin around the ingrown nail get softer, thereby making the lesion less painful and preventing extra infection. What you need to do:
• Mix ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide in plain water
• Soak your foot in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes
• Or, soak a cotton bal into the solution and apply it onto your problematic area
It will help relieve some extent from some ingrown toenail. Remember to not use undiluted hydrogen peroxide as some doctors say that direct application of undiluted hydrogen peroxide might rupture your healthy tissues of the skin.
2. Epsom Salt
There are a variety of benefits of Epsom salt that you can take advantage of. Scientifically known as magnesium sulphate, Epsom salt has a wide range of uses and one of them is to relieve an ingrown toenail (despite there are not many studies proving it). However, there is a true fact about Epsom salt is that it helps soften the skin, thereby making it easy to draw out the nail from the skin.
What you need to do:
• Add a large heap of it in the water
• Soak your problematic area into the solution for 15-20 minutes.
• Do this routine twice per day to get the best results possible.
MORE: causes of burning sensations in feet and legs
3. Tea Tree Oil / Lavender Essential Oil
One of the best home remedies for how to treat an ingrown nail infection is using essential oils, such as tea tree oil and lavender oil. The natural antibiotics in these oils could help relieve almost instantly the problem from an ingrown fingernail or toenail.
4. Oregano Oil
Reckoned as an antiseptic, antibacterial, and palliative agent, oregano oil can provide you with a fast relief from pain caused by an ingrown nail.
What you need to do:
• Mix oregano oil with a carrier oil, such as olive oil
• Apply it onto your infected area. Do not use undiluted or apply oregano oil directly onto your ingrown nail as it is very strong.
• Do this twice per day
• Or, adults could be ingested it by simply adding several drops of oregano oil into water or juice and then put 1-2 drops under their tongue.
Warning:
• Avoid using oregano oil for pregnant women
• Do not use oregano oil for children under 5
• This oil might reduce the ability of absorbing iron. So, it is recommended to use this oil about 2 hours before or after consuming any supplement of iron.
• Avoid using this method if you are allergic to sage, thyme, marjoram, basil, hyssop or mint.
• It might lead to vomiting, rashes or skin irritation if you take it internally.
