Ingrown toenail pain can be treated by soaking the toe, peeling skin off the nail, and placing cotton wool between the nail and skin. Over-the-counter medications can help manage pain, but infected nails require a doctor’s visit. Surgery may be needed for constant pain.
To deal with ingrown toenail pain, first try soaking the toe for about ten minutes before gently peeling the skin off the nail. When the nail begins to grow outward, place a small amount of cotton wool between the nail and the skin. You may find that over-the-counter medications help manage pain until your toe has healed. If you think your nail has become infected or if you suffer from repeated nail problems, it’s important to visit a doctor because you may need additional treatment.
Ingrown toenail pain is a common condition, especially among teenagers, that occurs when a nail begins to grow into the skin. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can lead to infection, which is why early treatment is essential. Proper treatment is especially important for people with diabetes or additional foot problems because the risk of infection is greatly increased.
To begin with, the treatment for ingrown toenail pain is usually conservative. If the problem is caught early, a doctor is likely to recommend that you regularly dip your toe in water for about ten minutes. Once the skin has become softer, you can push the skin away from the nail with a cotton ball. If this process is repeated every day for several weeks, it can prevent the nail from growing into the skin. When the nail starts growing, you should start putting small amounts of cotton wool under the nail.
If you think your toe is infected, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and other treatments. Symptoms of an infected toenail include swelling and redness. You may also find pus around the edge of the nail and the pain will often be worse.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, can help control ingrown toenail pain. However, these medications won’t fix the problem, but they will make it more manageable. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have a similar effect. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medication for an extended period of time.
If you have constant ingrown toenail pain, you may need surgery to remove part of the nail and relieve pressure on the skin. This type of operation often involves a local anesthetic to numb the toe and is usually a simple procedure. If part of the nail is removed correctly, it will grow back tighter, which should prevent the problem from happening again.
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