Find the best solutions for getting painful ingrown toenails under control.
How often do you think about the overall health of your feet? Probably never, right? However, anyone can develop foot problems. If you find yourself dealing with an ingrown toenail, our Fort Worth, TX, podiatrists Dr. Steven Lund and Dr. Leslie Rousseau can provide you with simple at-home solutions, and also determine whether you may need to come into the office for professional care.
Treating Your Ingrown Toenail at Home
If you are a healthy individual who isn’t dealing with nerve damage or diabetes, then you should be able to treat the ingrown toenail at home first. While it may take some time for the nail to properly grow out, here are some ways to ease pain and discomfort while the nail heals,
- Soak your feet in warm water. You may choose to add Epsom salts to the water, which can help lessen redness and inflammation. Soak feet for up to 15 minutes, several times a day. This can provide you with some fast relief if your ingrown toenail starts to act up.
- Avoid wearing shoes that put pressure on your toes. In fact, during this time it may be best to not wear shoes whenever possible. Of course, when shoes are necessary, make sure that you are wearing shoes with a wide, roomy toe bed. If you can wiggle your toes around in your toes, then these shoes shouldn’t aggravate your toenail.
- If Epsom salt soaks are no match for your pain, then it might be time to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Opt for an anti-inflammatory such as Tylenol that can target both the pain and swelling.
When to See a Podiatrist
If at-home care is working then you probably won’t need to visit a doctor; however, you should turn to our Fort Worth, TX, foot doctors to treat your ingrown toenail if,
- You have diabetes or nerve damage in your feet (do not try and treat the ingrown toenail yourself, in these cases)
- The pain continues to get worse
- You notice that the nail is putting a lot of pressure on your toe
- There is increased redness, swelling, or pus draining from the nail (all signs of infection)
Dealing with ingrown toenails here in Fort Worth or Denton, TX? Don’t worry, the podiatrists at Metroplex Foot and Ankle Center have this covered. To schedule an appointment with us, call (817) 595-1310 today.