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Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) are often caused by trimming nails too short, but they can also result from genetic factors (such as overly curved nail beds) or lifestyle habits (like frequently wearing tight high heels). Ingrown toenails cause pain and inflammation as the edges or sides of the nail grow into the flesh of the toe, especially the big toe. You can manage and treat ingrown toenails at home, partly by soaking your feet in warm water. However, medical intervention may sometimes be necessary, particularly if the nail becomes infected.
Steps
Soaking the Foot
Prepare warm water for soaking. The purpose of soaking your foot in warm water is to: alleviate discomfort and soften the nail, making it easier to trim or place something under the nail to relieve pressure. You should prepare a container large enough to fully submerge your foot and fill it with warm water. Adding Epsom salt can significantly reduce pain and swelling. The magnesium in the salt also helps relax the foot muscles.
- Salt acts as a natural antibacterial agent, but you can also use other ingredients to prevent infection, such as white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or iodine solution.
- The warmer the water, the more it helps draw out fluid from the toe, reducing swelling.
- If available, consider using a small Jacuzzi tub for soaking, as the bubbling action improves water circulation and provides a gentle foot massage.
- You can use table salt if Epsom salt is not available at home.
Soak the foot and the affected toe. Once the water is warm enough and you've added Epsom salt and/or a natural disinfectant, immerse your entire foot in the water for about 15-20 minutes. Depending on the results, you can repeat this process 3-5 times a day, so don’t discard the saltwater immediately. If using Epsom salt, you’ll notice your foot "shrinking" after 20 minutes, which is a sign that fluid is being drawn out of the foot/toe.
- Flexing your toes repeatedly while soaking helps improve blood circulation.
- If the toe is swollen, apply cold therapy (ice cubes wrapped in a thin towel) after soaking until the toe feels numb (about 10 minutes). Ice helps reduce acute inflammation and pain.
Massage the toe while soaking. While soaking your foot in warm water, gently massage the inflamed tissues in intervals to reduce swelling. During the massage, you may notice some pus or blood seeping from the toe and mixing into the water. This is normal and helps relieve pressure and pain in the toe.
- Use your thumb and index finger to gently massage the most inflamed part of the toe, starting from the farthest point and pushing toward the ankle.
- Limit toe massage to about 5 minutes during soaking, as longer massages may cause irritation.
Dry your foot thoroughly. After soaking in warm water, use a clean towel to dry your foot completely. Keeping the toe dry is crucial, as bacteria and other potential pathogens (like fungi) thrive in warm, moist environments.
- After drying your toe/foot, elevate your foot (place a pillow underneath) while sitting to improve blood flow away from the foot, helping to reduce inflammation.
- You can repeat this entire process whenever you feel discomfort from the ingrown toenail.
Treating the Ingrown Toenail After Soaking
Apply antibiotic ointment. Apply an antibiotic cream, lotion, or ointment to the ingrown toenail at least a few times a day, especially before bedtime. Once the ointment has absorbed into the soft tissues around the inflamed toe, you can wrap it with a sterile bandage. Remember to change the bandage each time you reapply the antibiotic.
- Use household items with antibacterial properties, such as Clorox bleach, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, baking soda mixed with water, iodine solution, or fresh lemon juice.
- Note that most home disinfectants may sting if applied to skin pierced or cut by the ingrown nail.
- Colloidal Silver is a strong antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal agent that doesn’t sting or irritate the skin. You can find it at most pharmacies or health food stores.
Place cotton or dental floss under the toenail. After soaking your foot in warm water, the ingrown toenail will soften, allowing you to gently insert a piece of cotton, gauze, or clean dental floss underneath to soothe the sensitive soft tissues near the nail bed. Carefully lift the inflamed skin and pry the nail using a nail file or similar tool, then gently place the cotton beneath the nail. Replace the cotton daily.
- It may take 1-2 weeks for the ingrown toenail to grow out and stop piercing the skin.
- Avoid attempting "self-surgery" by cutting the toenail to relieve pain, as this can worsen the condition.
Trim your toenails correctly. Once the nail has regrown and is long enough, avoid repeating the same mistake. Instead, cut the nail straight across and avoid trimming the edges or corners too deeply. Additionally, do not cut the nails too short to prevent ingrown nails.
- If someone else trims your nails, ask them to cut straight across and avoid cutting too close to the skin. Ideally, the nail should be trimmed so that a fingernail can fit underneath the sides and tip of the toenail.
- If home treatments and changes in nail trimming do not help or prevent ingrown toenails, consult a doctor or podiatrist for advice and/or treatment.
Assessing the Toenail Condition
Identify the cause of pain. If your big toe (or other toes) is inflamed and painful, remove your socks or shoes and inspect the area closely to determine the cause. Gradual inflammation and pain that worsens over several days, especially if you’ve recently trimmed your nails too short or worn tight shoes, may indicate an ingrown toenail. In most cases, you can easily spot where the nail is digging into the soft tissue around the nail bed.
- In addition to pain and swelling, other signs to look for include redness, tenderness on one or both sides of the nail.
- Ingrown toenails are common among teenagers, athletes, and particularly males.
Watch for signs of infection. The most serious consequence of an ingrown toenail is infection in the surrounding skin. An infected ingrown toenail will become more swollen, painful, firm, and warm to the touch, eventually producing foul-smelling pus. Due to the warmth and swelling, some areas of skin may peel and resemble blisters.
- Infected ingrown toenails occur when the immune system sends white blood cells to combat bacteria at the site, but sometimes bacteria multiply faster than the immune cells can contain them.
- See a doctor if the infected toe does not improve after a week or appears to be spreading. A doctor may surgically remove the ingrown portion of the nail.
- Cutting toenails at an angle causes them to curve and grow into the skin on the sides.
Rule out other causes of foot pain. There are several conditions with symptoms similar to ingrown toenails that you should be aware of. These include Gout (a type of arthritis), Bunion (a chronic deformity of the big toe), broken or dislocated toes, rheumatoid arthritis, necrosis (tissue death due to lack of blood supply), diabetic neuropathy, Morton’s Neuroma (a benign growth in the small nerves of the foot), and fungal infections.
- Gout can develop rapidly, often within hours, causing severe pain and inflammation in the big toe. It may result from a diet high in purine-rich foods like seafood and organ meats.
- Bunions affect the big toe and are primarily caused by wearing tight shoes over long periods. Essentially, it’s a chronic joint sprain, characterized by a bent, painful toe resembling arthritis.
- Stubbing your toe or other injuries can also lead to ingrown toenails.
Tips
- Add a few drops of essential oils (such as lavender or tea tree oil) to the soaking water for ingrown toenails, as they can help reduce infection.
- Wear properly fitting shoes to avoid pressure on the toes, which can cause nails to grow into surrounding tissues.
- While waiting for the inflammation to subside, opt for open-toed sandals or slippers instead of tight shoes.
- Shop for shoes in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest due to swelling and pressure.
- If a doctor has removed an ingrown toenail, it may take 2-4 months for a new nail to grow back.
Warnings
- If you have diabetes, nerve damage in the feet, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system, seek medical attention instead of treating ingrown toenails at home.
- A localized nail infection can develop into deeper soft tissue infections (cellulitis) and potentially bone infections (osteomyelitis). Consult a doctor if swelling worsens or doesn’t improve after a week.
