Home remedies for ingrown toenails can be appealing for a few different reasons. These treatments don’t require appointments, or any medical attention whatsoever. Many patients are concerned about COVID-19 spread and would rather avoid unnecessary travel and contact with other people. Additionally, these treatments are usually less expensive than being seen by a doctor. There are many home treatments for ingrown toenails that are not safe, including “home surgery” or using dental floss to pick the ingrown toenail out. However, there are some things you can do to help your ingrown at home safely. Most of these will simply relieve negative symptoms of the ingrown and not cure it entirely.

The first safe home treatment for ingrowns is for the pain that comes with them. Over the counter pain medications are usually effective at treating the pain from ingrown toenails, but they shouldn’t be relied on daily. Make sure to stay aware of the pain coming from your nails so that you know when you must seek medical attention. 

Aside from pain medication, at home soaks are safe and can help soften the skin around the ingrown. This can help the nail to grow around the skin instead of into it. These soaks can be done a variety of ways, but they all involve soaking your feet in a bath of warm water for around 20 minutes. Epsom salts can be added to the soak to soften and exfoliate the skin. Apple cider vinegar can also be added in small quantities for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. 

While these treatments can help, especially if your ingrown is new or very mild, they will not remove an ingrown toenail completely. The only safe way to do that is to have a licensed podiatrist examine your toes and perform an ingrown toenail removal. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.