How To Treat An Ingrown Toenail

One of the common problems that ail the foot of a person, an ingrown toenail is quite painful in nature. It can be described as a condition wherein the toe nail grows in such a way that it cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed. It is mainly the result of wearing ill-fitting shoes or excessively tight stockings, keeping the feet in damp atmosphere on a regular basis, softening of the nail-plate or even swelling of the epidermis keratin. While chronic ingrown toenail is a problem that is best handled by a podiatrist, a one-off incident can be treated at home also. Go through the following lines and know how to treat an ingrown toenail.

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Ingrown Toe Nail Treatment & Removal

Supplies Needed

Isopropyl Alcohols
Cotton Balls/ Swabs
Povidone-iodine Solution
Nail Clippers
Gauze Pads
Adhesive Bandages
Antibiotic Creams

Instructions

First of all, you need to get the nail clippers and wipe them thoroughly with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Make sure to clean the undersides of your nail clippers well, since they will be used to cut the dead skin surface.
Get an old bucket and put 1/2 gallon of warm water in it. Add capfuls of povidone-iodine solution to the bucket and put your foot (with the ingrown nail) in it. Let it soak for 10 minutes.
Take out your foot from the bucket and let it dry thoroughly. Now, get hold of the nail clippers and insert them under the nail border.
While making sure to keep the bottom of the clipper as close to the bottom of the nail plate as possible, try to clip out the ingrown toenail at a slight angle, without cutting into the skin.
After you have managed to cut the ingrown nail, it is the time to grasp the corner and try to pull it out gently.
Get a gauze pad or cotton swab and soak it in alcohol or betadine solution. Use the pad/swab to wipe the area gently.
With the last step, the procedure for taking out the ingrown nail is complete. However, you will have to undertake after-care as well.
For three days following the toenail removal (or until the soreness is completely gone), soak your foot in povidone-iodine solution (put in 1/2 gallon warm water), for 20 minutes. Dry the foot thoroughly after the soaking is over and apply an adhesive bandage and an antibiotic cream.
In order to keep the pressure off the treated toe, it is advisable to place a sliver of cotton between the nail and the skin, for a few initial days. You can remove the cotton if, and when, you see that the nail has begun to grow out and away from the toe.
In the days that the treated toe takes to heal completely, make sure to remain barefoot as much as possible. In cases where you have to wear footwear, stick to loose shoes. This is to ensure that the treated toe does not suffer from any kind of pressure.

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