Find out what you can do to ease a painful ingrown toenail.

Is your big toe causing you pain these days? When you look closer, can you see that the edge of your nail seems to be piercing your skin? If so, you could very well be dealing with ingrown toenails. While an ingrown toenail doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to visit our Hackettstown, NJ, podiatrists, here’s how you can treat the problem yourself and when you may need to turn to a professional for treatment.

Treating an Ingrown Toenail at Home

If you are a healthy individual with no underlying health problems such as diabetes that could severely impact the health of your feet, then you can probably treat your ingrown toenail yourself. Home care aims to ease your symptoms until the nail grows out and away from the skin. Some ways to manage ingrown toenail discomfort include,

• Soak feet in warm Epsom salt water for up to 20 minutes, three to four times a day
• Take a pain reliever like ibuprofen, which can temporarily ease pain and swelling
• Avoid shoes or socks that are too tight or put pressure on the toenail
• Gently try to lift the edge of the nail away from the skin

When to Call Your Doc

So, you’ve been treating your ingrown toenail on your own, but you’re not seeing an improvement in your symptoms. If it’s been a couple of days and your ingrown toenail is still causing discomfort, then it’s time to turn to our Hackettstown, Washington, NJ, podiatrists for care. You should also call us immediately if you are experiencing any signs of an infection such as increased redness, skin that’s hard to the touch, red streaks, pus or fever.

How a Podiatrist Treats an Ingrown Toenail

If the nail is only slightly ingrown, we may be able to lift the edge of the nail away from the skin using a piece of cotton swab or dental floss; however, if you are experiencing redness, pain, tenderness or pus, the best option is to remove part of the nail. This can be done under local anesthesia so you won’t feel anything. If you are dealing with repeated or chronic ingrown toenails, then our team may recommend removing the nail in its entirety.

If an ingrown toenail is happening to you and home care isn’t cutting it, our podiatrists are here to help. To schedule a consultation, call Foot Care Associates in Hackettstown, NJ, and serving Washington, NJ at (908) 852-0229.