1. Epsom Soak
Soaking your foot in a tub of warm water with a cup of Epsom salt will keep your nail clean and free from bacteria. The Epsom salt will also help reduce any pain or swelling in your toe (5).
Simply soak your foot for 15 minutes at a time 3-4 times a day to soften your toenail and gently tug on the corners of your nail with a sterilized nail file to relieve any pressure on your skin. As with any healing soak, dry your feet thoroughly and keep your nail covered with a band-aid throughout the day.
2. Castile Soap Soak
If you can’t fit in 3-4 foot baths into your schedule, soak your foot twice a day in a tub of warm water and castile soap to keep infection at bay.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Wash
You can swap Epsom salt for a quarter cup of vinegar if you suspect you may be getting a fungal infection (6). Another option is to regularly apply diluted ACV to the skin under and around your ingrown nail to keep it clean.
4. Essential Oils
To reduce pain and inflammation and fight bacteria, make an antibiotic ointment out of 5 drops each of eucalyptus, tea tree and lavender essential oil, 2 drop of peppermint oil, and 1 drop of oregano oil.
Combine with 2 ounces each of coconut oil and aloe vera gel and gently massage the ointment into your wound after soaking and drying your foot.
Store the ointment in a sealed glass jar and apply 2-3 times a day before covering your nail with a clean band-aid.
5. Dental Floss & Cotton
After soaking your nail, pass a small piece of unflavored dental floss under the corner of your nail and slowly pull upwards to relieve pressure from your skin. Do not force your nail or you may cause further injury to your toe.
Take a small piece of sterile gauze and prop it under the nail to prevent it from touching your skin and to encourage it to shift back into its normal position.
Practice this trick after soaking your feet, using a new piece of gauze every time and wrapping it into place with a bandage or medical tape. After about 2 weeks, your nail will be as good as new!
6. Change Your Shoes
High heels an tight-fitting shoes force your toes together and put more pressure on these digits. This can push your ingrown toenail further into your skin and increase pain and healing time. Instead, wear flat, sensible shoes or sandals as your nail heals.
The Ultimate Ingrown Toenail Routine
Combine the methods above for a pain-free nail in no time!
- Soak your feet in Epsom salt, castile soap or apple cider vinegar.
- Use a disinfected nail file or fresh dental floss to lift the nail away from the swollen skin.
- Pour hydrogen peroxide or diluted vinegar onto the skin under the nail. It may sting a little.
- Pack gauze underneath the nail edge to prop it up.
- Apply a homemade antibiotic cream to the skin around your nail.
- Bandage the toe loosely as to not push the nail back into your skin.
- Wear open-toe shoes while your wound heals.
- Repeat daily until the toenail has grown out and is no longer ingrown.
To prevent future ingrown nails, trim your nails properly (straight across) and avoid tight-fighting footwear. It’s also a good idea to wash and dry your feet after working out to keep the skin around our toes from getting too soft.
If you’ve suffered from ingrown nails more than once, consider visiting a podiatrist.