The urgency of ingrown toenail treatment is often well understood by patients who need it; pain accompanying them is often extreme. These conditions should be treated by a licensed podiatrist. They are specialized to work on issues of the feet and are experienced with providing the best care for an ingrown toenail. However, if you aren’t able to be seen by a podiatrist immediately for any reason, there are some things you can do to stop the condition from getting worse.
The most important thing to do to stop your ingrown toenail from getting worse is to rest it. Ingrown toenails are usually caused by excessive pressure placed on the toe throughout daily activities. Because of this, continuing daily activities, as usual, will just make the ingrown get worse and worse. Resting your feet as much as possible will protect your toes from further damage.
The next thing you can do is assess the fit of your footwear. Improperly fitting footwear can put excessive pressure on the sides of your toes and lead to the formation and worsening of an ingrown toenail. To stop an ingrown that has already developed from getting worse, make sure you are only wearing well-fitting shoes with wide toes.
Soaking your feet regularly can also stop the progression of an ingrown toenail. To do this, simply make a warm water bath (with or without Epsom salts) and soak your feet in it as regularly as possible. While this won’t cure the ingrown toenail, what it does is make the skin around it softer. This can prevent the nail from growing further into the skin and reduce pain.
While these methods can help to stop your ingrown from getting worse, they aren’t a replacement for actual medical attention. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.