An ingrown toenail can be a very painful condition that feels even worse when you put on shoes or have to walk around. Luckily, there are a few ways to ease the pain:
- Soaking your feet in warm water with one cup of Epsom Salt
- Using cotton or floss to lift the nail after your skin has softened (be careful not to dig too far)
- Taking pain relievers
- Topical antibiotic creams to fight infection
- Applying a bandaid to the area to prevent infection
- Wearing open-toed shoes
Intense pain in the toe can also mean that the toe or toenail is infected. Check for inflammation, redness, and swelling to determine if your nail is infected. If you have diabetes or another condition that involves nerve dysfunction and/or poor blood circulation, you should not attempt to treat the ingrown yourself. Instead, you should make an appointment with a podiatrist to get it checked out. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our podiatrists.