Our feet are trusted to carry round our body weight and keep us moving every single day, therefore it’s incredibly important for us to look after them, especially after a long day. Of course, there is only so much we can do to help you to protect your feet, the rest is up to you. One issue we tend to see a lot is an infected ingrown toe nail, which is why we’re discussing the best advice to help you recover with speed and get you back on your feet in no time.
What Is An Ingrown Toe Nail?
An ingrown toe nail occurs when the corners or edges of the nail grows into the skin in the toe rather than growing outwards, causing pain and discomfort. It’s most likely to happen on your big toe, however it can happen on any of your toes. It’s a fairly common issue to experience and it can be treated relatively quickly and easily.
Read More: Ingrown Toe Nail? Here’s What You Need To Do.
How To Prevent An Ingrown Toe Nail…
Even though anybody can develop an ingrown toe nail at any point in their lifetime, there are certain things that you can do to prevent one from developing. For example, keeping nails well trimmed and wearing sensible fitted shoes are the best options for maintaining healthy feet and nails.
How To Treat An Infected Ingrown Toe Nail At Home…
Before visiting a GP or podiatrist, you should attempt to treat your ingrown toe nail at home, as long as you are not suffering with bleeding, pus and a fever. You can do this by soaking your feet in warm, salty water for 15 minutes, several times per day. Ensure to fully dry your feet afterwards and keep them clean and dry in between soaks.
If you can, aim to wear sandals or other comfortable, breathable shoes to allow the nail to breathe properly rather than becoming trapped. It will heal more quickly and prevent infection from becoming worse.
If the pain and swelling continues to worsen, rather than getting better and beginning to heal, you should visit your GP or a podiatrist. They can prescribe antibiotics to help fight off the infection.
Further Help For An Infected Ingrown Toe Nail…
If you have an infected ingrown toe nail which isn’t getting better, or a recurring ingrown nail which doesn’t seem to want to heal, you’ve come to the right place. Here at the Northwich Foot Clinic, we offer a range of podiatry services including partial nail and full nail removal. If you’re suffering with your infected ingrown toe nail and home remedies aren’t working, you can book an appointment with us online here. We will then be able to take a look and decide which route of treatment is best to take according to your individual circumstances.
