1. Make sure feet and nails are kept clean dry, except when you are doing a soak.
2. Try doing a foot soak 2-3 times a week that consists of warm water and salt. Allow the sore nails to soak for about 15 minutes. The soak will help alleviate pain. Once done make sure the feet are dried.
3. Cover the sore or infected nail with a band-aid, this will provide extra cushioning and protection.
4. Try an over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen, advil, aspirin, etc.
5. You can also try rubbing antibiotic ointment to rub on the nail.
6. Be weary of the shoes you wear. In other words wear shoes that are made of soft fabrics that won’t put any pressure or pain to your toes and feet.
7. Try putting a barrier between the ingrown toenail and the other toes. You may do this by putting a piece of cotton in between the toes. You may also soak the cotton in antiseptic.
8. Try gently pulling the skin away from the nail. You can do this using a small nail file or a tool of some sort that won’t cause any harm or damage.
9. Do a daily check to make sure there are no signs of redness, swelling, infection, pain etc.
10. Lastly, you may see a podiatrists if you are showing signs of an infection and experiencing pain.