If you’ve been researching treatment for ingrown toenails online, you’ve likely encountered a plethora of at home remedies that claim to treat the condition. While a minority of these attempts may have some success at treating ingrown toenails, it is important to be able to differentiate which types of at home remedies are safe. To evaluate the safety of at home treatments, you should look for a few things.
The few treatments that won’t risk your safety are usually most helpful when an ingrown is mild. Soaking your feet in epsom salts and warm water can help reduce pain and other symptoms of mild ingrown toenails. Resting your ingrown toenail is also the best way to ensure it doesn’t become worse.
The first thing that indicates an at-home treatment for ingrown toenails could risk your safety is any recommendation to cut or dig out your ingrown toenail yourself. “Bathroom surgery” for ingrown toenails is extremely unsafe. This type of at-home remedy risks introducing pathogenic bacteria and fungi into the nail. Whether it is recommended to use scissors, nail floss, or anything else to remove the nail itself, this type of procedure is dangerous! It will also likely irritate your ingrown toenail further than it already is, as well as cause pain. Furthermore, these treatments are unlikely to actually help the ingrown at all.
Another red flag that an at-home remedy risks your safety is if it attempts to treat an infection at home. Infected ingrown toenails are much more serious than ingrowns that haven’t been infected yet, and should only be treated by a licensed podiatrist. If your ingrown toenail has become infected, it is time to give up on any at home remedies. This is the time to be seen by a licensed podiatrist for effective, safe treatment. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.