Ingrown Toenail Remedies : Relief Infection With Home Treatment
Causes Of Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown toenail is a very common, painful condition that is caused when a nail cuts into the nail bed causing great discomfort. Ingrown nails affect the fingers as well as the toes but are more common in the case of toenails. Tight shoes are the most common cause of ingrown toenails as the nails do not have sufficient space to breathe and grow in such conditions. As a result of this, they tend to grow into one or both sides of the nail bed. The use of tight socks or stockings can also be the cause of ingrown toenails as they tend to exert a lot of pressure on the toes. Damp conditions and sweat can also contribute to ingrown toenails owing to the softening of the nail-plate and swelling of the epidermis keratin that causes a permanent arched formation of the nail. An inappropriate way of cutting the nails could also result in ingrown nails. Other reasons for ingrown toenails are injury and infection. In rare cases, the condition could be inherited.
Remedies For Toenail Infection
In order to ensure that your nails grow properly, the use of comfortable and well-fitting footwear is recommended. Footwear should also be rotated on a regular basis so as to allow them to air out properly, thus ensuring that there is no accumulation of sweat. Till the toe heals, the use of sandals or open-toed shoes is recommended to give the toe time to heal. Socks and stockings should also be comfortable, and ensuring that they are not too tight or too loose is recommended. Washing socks and stockings daily and a final rinse with a few drops of tea tree oil mixed in warm water will further guarantee that besides sweat, all infection causing microbes are killed due to the antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil. Thereafter, drying them in direct sunlight will further ensure that they are thoroughly dry before use.
If you tend to sweat a lot, powder dusted on feet before slipping into footwear will help in absorbing the sweat, thus keeping the feet dry for a longer period. While cutting your nails, ensure that both the blades of the nail-cutter are in line with each other as a diagonally cut toenail can grow awkwardly, increasing the chances of ingrowths. Furthermore, avoid cutting the nails too short, especially at the sides. People who tend to cut their nails to obtain a perfect circular shape are more prone to ingrown nails as compared with people who cut their nails straight or slightly curved. Soaking the feet in hot water to which tea tree oil has been added will help in preventing infection.