Ingrown toenails are pretty common to get, but they can cause a lot of pain. If you're currently looking to find relief in an effective manner, these care steps are important to take. They'll get you back to feeling great in no time.
Take a Warm Bath
It sounds so simple, but the very act of soaking your feet in warm water can do wonders for relieving your pain. This is great to know if you were worried about investing in a bunch of expensive products and equipment. There is a protocol you need to follow, though.
In addition to soaking your feet in warm water periodically throughout the day, throw some Epsom salts in the water. These salts contain natural minerals that can alleviate swelling and pain you may be feeling because of the ingrown toenail. Do this every day if you can.
Change Shoes
Ingrown toenails become a particularly annoying problem when you wear shoes. The nail can rub against your shoes every time you walk, causing you a lot of stress. To counteract this rubbing effect, you should just wear different shoes. Ideally, you need footwear with a wide toe. Then, your toes will have plenty of room and won't be prone to irritating the toe with the ingrown nail.
If you don't mind spending more money, you can buy shoes specifically designed for ingrown toenails. A lot of foot doctors offer them to help patients just like yourself. Ultimately, find something that's comfortable and leaves your ingrown toenail alone.
Talk to a Professional
If nothing seems to be helping your ingrown toenail, it may be time to talk to a professional. A podiatrist, in particular, is a foot specialist you can consult with about this ingrown toenail. They have many approaches to this problem.
If the ingrown nail is really deep, they can perform surgery. It will be minimally invasive so you don't have to worry about an extensive, stressful operation. They'll simply make an incision and extract the portion of the nail that didn't grow in properly. They can also give you topical medication that can help with any swelling you may have.
Ingrown toenails can cause you all sorts of pain. Luckily, you don't have to just sit in agony each day. There are plenty of care steps you can take that will deliver the relief you've been looking for. Just do what works best for your personal situation.