Ingrown fingernail is a condition that occurs when nails start growing into the layer of skin. It mainly happens on the toe, but sometimes it also occurs on the hand fingers. The person dealing with ingrown fingernails may experience extreme pain and discomfort.
Ingrown fingernails can be caused by improper streaming or nail-biting habits. It can give birth to injuries or fungal infections like paronychia, which is caused when tissues surround nails, and bacteria and fungi enter the skin.
Home remedies can cure this ingrown nail, but they also require the need to medical professionals for the chronic condition. We have discussed both the way to fix the ingrown nails simply.
Home Remedies To Treat Ingrown Fingernail
Treating an ingrown nail is not a big deal, as any individual can treat himself or herself. If you have diabetes or any other health condition, you need special treatment by a professional. But if you don’t fall into such a category, you can use the below steps to treat your ungrown fingernail at home.
- Sock the infected fingernail in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat the process several times a day.
- Gently massage your affected area by applying the light pressure in a circular motion.
- You can also apply antibiotic ointments to the ingrown nail after cleaning.
- In some cases, you can also lift the ingrown nail and insert a piece of cotton or dental floss between the nail and skin for instant relief.
Following these steps can help you manage the discomfort and provide relief from extreme pain. If you can’t bear it, then you can seek the medical treatment that we have discussed below.
Effective Medical Treatment For Ingrown Fingurenail
Usually, home remedies are enough to get relief from ingrown fingernails. But sometimes, it can become chronic and even unbearable, and you need professional help to get rid of it. In some cases, the person with diabetes and other medical issues also requires a healthcare professional to treat their ingrown fingernail.
Chemical mastoidectomy is considered the most effective solution for ingrown nails. Here, the doctor removes the portion of the nail that has grown into the skin and applies the antibiotic to heal the infected finger.
- The process starts by numbing the infected area with local anaesthesia.
- After that, the doctor gently removes the ingrown nails from the skin.
- Next, the chemicals like phenol or sodium hydroxide are rubbed into the nail bed.
- At last, the doctor applies antibiotic ointment around the nail to reduce the fungal infection risk.
After the success of the surgical process, your healthcare professional may prescribe you antibiotics to heal the wound. Use this medication as prescribed to fix your ingrown fingernails effectively.
Precautions To Prevent Ingrown Fingernail
Why suffer from conditions like ingrown fingernails as you can prevent its causes? Here are some of the very simple steps that you can do to stop ingrown fingernails.
- Trim your nails carefully and ensure to align them in a straight manner.
- It is always advised to keep nails at a moderate length to prevent digging into the surrounding skin.
- Avoid biting your nails or scratching something which can damage their shape.
- Use loose shoes or a size that fits you to avoid any type of discomfort for your toenails.
- Do not cut the cuticles, a layer of protein around the nail, which may increase the risk of infection.
Using these simple steps can keep your nail growth healthy and avoid any infection or ingrown fingernails. Still, if you get infected and you feel uncomfortable even carrying the home remedies, seek medical help immediately before it gets chronic.
Final Words
Ingrown fingernails can seem a small problem, but it can create extreme pain that you can’t bear and even fungal infection. So, it is important to address the causes and take action as soon as possible. Some of the common symptoms of ingrown nails are swelling in the fingertip, severe pain, warmth and redness, and pus formation.
Though ungrown fingernails can be cured through home remedies if treated instantly, if not, then you need to seek doctors. But it’s better to take precautions by practicing good hygiene and proper procedure to trim the nail.
