If you’ve experienced an ingrown toenail, you know how painful they can be. An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a toenail pushes into the adjacent skin. This causes soreness or even significant pain and infection. Sometimes an ingrown toenail is chronic in nature. Over time, the nail edge gradually turns down. Eventually, this impinges on the skin and causes soreness or pain to develop. Acute ingrown toenails occur when the adjacent skin becomes infected, thus causing redness, pain, mild swelling and drainage. 
How to treat mild ingrown toenails at home
- Soak your foot in Epsom salt water for 10 minutes once daily. The water should be a comfortable temperature, not hot.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to the ingrown nail edge once daily.
- Try to wear shoes that do not put pressure on the ingrown nail edge.
When to call a podiatrist
Contact your podiatrist right away if your toenail doesn’t improve or worsens.
Signs to watch for:
- Swelling
- Increased pain
- Drainage
Ingrown toenails can be fixed by a podiatrist in the office with a simple procedure. After numbing the toe, a small portion of the nail edge is removed. In most cases, medication is applied at the nail root so the correction is permanent. A full return to all activities is usually possible the next day.
If you have any questions or think you have an ingrown toenail, give us a call today at 317-573-4250.