Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to disinfect wounds, and for this reason, many people with ingrown toenails try to use it to prevent infection or help the ingrown heal. The tendency with any injury is to try to treat it at home if possible, but in certain cases, this can lead to more harm than good. This is definitely true when hydrogen peroxide is used on ingrown toenails, for a few reasons.

First of all, while hydrogen peroxide can be useful to disinfect new wounds, it is not something that should be used regularly. This is because it kills all cells that it comes into contact with. When hydrogen peroxide is used repeatedly, it will kill the cells that are healing. Using it to repeatedly disinfect an ingrown toenail will actually cause more irritation to the cut part of the toe. This disrupts any attempt from the body to heal the ingrown toenail and can cause the ingrown to actually worsen if inflammation increases. Often, patients that use hydrogen peroxide regularly on an ingrown toenail will be in worse shape than if they had left it alone completely.

The other danger that comes with trying to use hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for ingrown toenails is that it may make patients less likely to seek out medical attention that they need. If someone believes it is suitable to only use that, they may prolong getting ingrown toenail surgery. If you have an ingrown toenail, you should seek medical attention from a licensed podiatrist. They will be able to discuss treatment options with you that will actually be effective and help guide you through the process of recovering from an ingrown toenail. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.