How to Do an Ingrown Nail Treatment: Can You Do It at Home?

An ingrown nail treatment is actually incredibly scary for many people. Why? First of all, this means you’re dealing with ingrown nails, which are among the most frustrating things your toes could have to suffer from. Secondly, the process of getting rid of it and helping your nail heal can cause slight stinging at best. There’s just generally enough pain involved to make it more than unpleasant.

Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands and save your nails from their ingrown cousins at your own pace. Read below to discover what you can do to pluck these nuisances out of your life from the comfort of your own home.

How to Do an Ingrown Nail Treatment at Home

Step #1

First, you need to make sure that your nails are soft and easy to groom and that the ingrown nail doesn’t catch a dangerous infection. Heat up some water as warm as you can handle it comfortably. Scatter some Epsom salt in the container and soak your feet four up to 15 minutes. Repeat this at least twice every day until you feel the problem disappear completely.

Step #2

Get some tools nearby:

• Cotton balls.
• A pair of [easyazon_link identifier=”B0000532A2″ locale=”US” tag=”beautifu0f2-20″]tweezers[/easyazon_link].
• Something with a pointy end – for example, a cuticle remover.

Next, start working on trimming your toenail. Be extra careful so that you don’t accidentally sting any patches around the ingrown nail. This time around, ensure that your nails are as round as you can have them. Nails with sharp edges and corners are the main reason for ingrown nails.

Step #3

It’s time for the traditional cotton treatment.

Rip a piece of the cotton ball and then, using a pair of tweezers, gently slip it underneath the affected side of the nail and the skin. Hold the nail slightly lifted while you’re inserting the cotton to make it easier and less-painful to get through the process. Remove the cotton on a daily basis so you can undergo the cleansing detailed at step one. You need to do this to avoid infections.

Step #4

Be mindful and careful and prevent possible complications by doing certain things:

• Apply an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ointment around the nail and then wrap it in a bandage. This will protect it even better from external factors while simultaneously helping the ointment sink into the nail and skin to nourish it.
• Let your feet breathe as much as possible. So, whenever you can help it, go sockless and shoeless around the house.
• Speaking of socks, if you do have to wear some, stick only to a pair of whites. Certain dyes in socks can end up leaking and the skin absorbs them, further raising the risk of infections.

Wrapping Up

An ingrown nail treatment from your own home is, indeed, possible. However, be sure to accurately evaluate the seriousness of the situation. If the nail has grown deeply into the skin, which is extra sensitive and reddened, your attempts at a DIY solution may make things worse. We recommend seeing a specialist instead.