How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Toenails In South Africa

What is Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, inflamed skin, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe.

Often you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, your health care provider can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications of ingrown toenails.

If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications of ingrown toenails.

How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Toenails In South Africa

Safe and Effective Ingrown Toenail Home Remedies

1. Warm, Soapy Water Soak

Soaking your affected foot in warm, soapy water may help ease pain and reduce swelling. You should do this 3 times daily for up to 20 minutes. Adding a small amount of liquid Castile soap may bring extra relief.

Be sure to dry your foot rigorously after soaking.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Soak

Apple cider vinegar is considered a folk remedy for a majority of ailments these days. And this includes ingrown nails. Apple cider vinegar is known to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and pain-relieving properties.

However, scientific evidence for apple cider vinegar as a remedy to common ailments is limited at best.

You can try to treat an ingrown nail by soaking your affected foot in a bucket or basin of warm water mixed with a ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. Do this for up to 20 minutes daily.

Remember to always dry your foot thoroughly once you are done with the soaking.

3. Epsom Salt Soak

Epsom salts contain high amounts of magnesium which is known to fight inflammation according to a study. Such a soak provides relief from the swelling and pain of your affected foot.

In a wide bucket or basin, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt per quart of warm water. Soak your foot and gently massage the affected skin area downward. Do this 2 to 3 times every day for 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide Soak

Hydrogen peroxide is another great option to treat ingrown toenails at home. It is a natural disinfectant, which is the reason why it is commonly used to clean wounds.

Soak your infected foot in a bucket of water and hydrogen peroxide solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this 2 to 3 times daily. Make sure to add at least 3% of hydrogen peroxide for every half cup of warm water.

5. Wearing Comfortable Footwear

Overcrowding your toes by wearing ill-fitting shoes is one of the leading causes of ingrown toenails. You can prevent an ingrown from developing in your big toe by wearing comfortable shoes.

Be sure to pick better-fitting shoes that have enough space for your toes. Comfortable footwear should allow you to wiggle your toes.

During the healing process, wear sandals instead of shoes to prevent pressure on your inflamed toenails

6. Using Toe Protectors

You should consider wearing toe protectors if your day-to-day activities require you to wear shoes all the time.

Toe protectors provide a soft, protective barrier between your toes and your shoes. They are usually stretch-to-fit caps made from elastic materials.

7. Taking Oral Antibiotics

Doctors do not usually prescribe oral antibiotics for mild cases of ingrown toenails. There has been no proof that oral antibiotics can improve the condition.

Still, you may need oral antibiotics if you have a weakened immune system. Also, if your ingrown nail shows signs of infection such as:

foul odour
presence of pus
throbbing pain
increased redness
increased swelling
warmth in and around the affected toe

Common antibiotics used to treat an ingrown toenail are:

Amoxicillin
Flucloxacillin
Cephalexin
Erythromycin

8. Taking OTC Pain Relievers

To counter pain caused by an ingrown nail, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever. One example is Panadol, which is paracetamol. Be sure to take only the recommended daily amount of 3,000 milligrams to avoid side effects.

Nurofen is ibuprofen and is a better solution if there is pain and swelling. Common side effects of ibuprofen include:

diarrhoea
upset stomach and
abdominal pain

Voltaren is diclofenac and it can also help ease the pain in your toes. Both of these drugs are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and all of them can cause stomach and bowel upset.

9. Applying Antibiotic Ointments

Applying an antibiotic ointment or cream is one of those ingrown toenail remedies that help reduce the risk of infection. It can also promote healing of your infected toe. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and bandage your toe after applying the ointment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I permanently fix an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail can be permanently corrected with a procedure called a chemical matrixectomy. This procedure involves removing either a portion of the nail that is ingrown or the entire toenail in certain cases.

How do you dissolve an ingrown toenail?

The best way to do this is to put the toe in water while rubbing the Epsom salt into the affected area. The Epsom salt will absorb into the skin and help to soften and dissolve portions of the nail that has become embedded in the skin.

How much does it cost to get a ingrown toenail removed?

For patients without health insurance, ingrown toenail treatment typically costs less than $50 for at-home treatment, but can reach $200-$1,000 or more if a doctor visit and a procedure to remove all or part of the toenail is required.

Can you fix ingrown toenail yourself?

You can sometimes take care of an ingrown toenail yourself. However, if you have a chronic condition or an infection, treating it yourself may make it worse. An infection from an ingrown nail can spread to your foot, leg, or body.

Does Vaseline help ingrown toenails?

Soak your toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, 2 times each day on the toe where the nail was removed. Wear a bandage on your toe.

Will ingrown toenail grow out?

An ingrown toenail occurs when the toenail grows into the skin next to the nail. It most commonly affects the big toe. Although an ingrown toenail will not go away without treatment, people can usually treat it at home

Why does my big toenail hurt when I press?

How painful is ingrown toenail surgery?

The entire ingrown toenail surgery is completely painless due to the effects of the anesthetic. By the time the anesthetic wears off, your pain level will be significantly reduced from where it was before the procedure. Downtime is extremely minimal for almost all patients.

Should I cut my ingrown toenail?

If a nail is already ingrown, however, a person should avoid cutting it at home, as this can make it worse or cause infections. An ingrown toenail develops when the edge of a toenail, usually on the big toe, grows into the skin. Ingrown toenails can be very painful.

What ointment is good for ingrown toenails?

Most ingrown toenails can be treated by soaking the foot in warm, soapy water and applying a topical antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin/neomycin (one brand: Neosporin).

When should you go to the doctor for an ingrown toenail?

When to see a doctor. The dividing line between relying on home care and seeking medical help for an ingrown toenail is if you see signs of infection. If the pain worsens considerably, or if you see pus or blood, increased redness, nail discoloration, or notice a bad odor, you need to seek professional care promptly.

Does it hurt to get your toenail removed?

Nail surgery can be done in your doctor’s office. Before it starts, your doctor numbs the area around your nail. If you’ve ever had your gums numbed at the dentist’s, it’s very similar. You’ll be awake for the surgery, but you won’t feel any pain.

How long does it take for an ingrown toenail to grow out?

It may take from seven to 15 days for the nail to grow out so that it does not poke into the skin any longer. A piece of dental floss can be threaded under the nail transversely under both sides and then glued to the edges of the nail and skin to keep it in place.