Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh.

pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection

Soak the foot in warm water 3 to 4 times a day if possible. After soaking, keep the toe dry, Gently massage over the inflamed skin, Place a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail. Wet the cotton with water or antiseptic.

A less widely used treatment for ingrown toenails is nail bracing. Nail braces work by gently lifting the sides of the toenail and eventually retraining the nail to grow to a flatter shape over time. The total time needed for the nail to be reshaped is one full nail growth or about 1 and 1/2 years.There are two main types of nail braces, adhesive and hooked. Adhesive nail braces are generally made of a thin strip of composite material that is glued to the top of the nail. The strip naturally tries to return to a flat state and lifts the edges of the nails in the process. Hooked nail braces consist of a hook (usually made of dental wire) placed under either side of the nail with some type of tensioning system pulling the hooks together.Because of the curved shape of the nail, the tensioning device rests on the higher middle of the nail applying upward pressure to the sides of the nail.In studies of diabetics, who need to avoid surgery when possible, nail bracing was found to be effective at providing immediate relief as well as long term relief.

Soak the foot in warm water 3 to 4 times a day if possible. After soaking, keep the toe dry, Gently massage over the inflamed skin, Place a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail. Wet the cotton with water or antiseptic.

A less widely used treatment for ingrown toenails is nail bracing. Nail braces work by gently lifting the sides of the toenail and eventually retraining the nail to grow to a flatter shape over time. The total time needed for the nail to be reshaped is one full nail growth or about 1 and 1/2 years.There are two main types of nail braces, adhesive and hooked. Adhesive nail braces are generally made of a thin strip of composite material that is glued to the top of the nail. The strip naturally tries to return to a flat state and lifts the edges of the nails in the process. Hooked nail braces consist of a hook (usually made of dental wire) placed under either side of the nail with some type of tensioning system pulling the hooks together.Because of the curved shape of the nail, the tensioning device rests on the higher middle of the nail applying upward pressure to the sides of the nail.In studies of diabetics, who need to avoid surgery when possible, nail bracing was found to be effective at providing immediate relief as well as long term relief.