Ingrown toenails happen for a variety of reasons, but when it does happen it causes the edge of your toenail to grow into your skin which can be very painful. Along with causing you pain, an ingrown toenail can also become infected and cause a good deal of swelling. The information here will help you become more educated on things like what causes ingrown toenails and how you can try to treat them at home.

Some things that cause ingrown toenails

One of the things that can cause you to have an ingrown toenail is an injury to your toenail. For example, if you stub your toe, then you can end up developing an ingrown toenail. Another thing that can lead to the development of an ingrown toenail is wearing shoes that fit you tighter than what you should be wearing. You can also develop an ingrown toenail if you trim your toenail too short. Also, when you are cutting your toenails, make sure you don't cut them at an angle, as this can cause the toenails to grow out in a way that causes them to grow into your skin.

Things you can do to get relief from the pain of an ingrown toenail

If you are hurting because of your ingrown toenail, then you want to take an over the counter anti-inflammatory to help bring down the swelling from the ingrown toenail and to bring you relief from the pain. You should also soak it in a warm basin of water and Epsom salts. The Epsom salts will help with the pain and can also help to draw out infection that may be setting in.

Ways to try to treat an ingrown toenail at home

You can try to convince your toenail to grow correctly by tucking a piece of dental wax under the edge of your toenail, where the ingrown part of it is. If it works, this will cause the toenail to grow in a raised way that can fix the issue.

Switching from shoes that fit too tightly to ones that are looser can help an ingrown toenail to start growing correctly if the tight fitting shoes were in fact the reason for the ingrown toenail in the first place.

When to see the podiatrist

If you are unable to correct your ingrown toenail on your own, then you want to make sure you get in to see a podiatrist such as Greenberg Paul. They will be able to treat the issue, so you can say goodbye to your ingrown toenail problem.