Because ingrown toenails are commonly extremely painful, most people who have them are first and foremost looking to get their pain relieved. Some people are used to taking over-the-counter pain medications for conditions such as this, believing that curing the pain will help the condition overall. However, you should be aware of what taking these medications could mean for an ingrown toenail before you decide to use them. Over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen can help with the pain from an ingrown, but there is more to the story than that.

The main danger with taking medications like Ibuprofen for ingrown toenails is that they can cause you to avoid the actual issue of your toe. These medications don’t do anything for the ingrown toenail itself, which will require medical treatment from a licensed podiatrist. Ingrown nails are known to get worse the longer they go untreated since the same conditions that make them develop will make them worse. These things, like tight shoes and excessive sports, should not be continued while dealing with an ingrown toenail. Ibuprofen and other similar medications make it easier to “push through the pain.” This is the opposite of what you should be doing for an ingrown toenail! The pain associated with an ingrown toenail is there because the nail is continually digging into the wound it has made into the skin. Because of this, continuing to use your feet as you would without pain will make the condition get worse.

The best reason to take Ibuprofen for an ingrown toenail is if you already have a consultation scheduled with a podiatrist. Ibuprofen is a good way to quell pain until you are able to receive medical treatment for the ingrown. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.