Treat Ingrown Nails with These 6 Home Remedies
Are you looking for ways to treat ingrown nails naturally?
Ingrown toenails, known in medical terminology as onychocryptosis, are a common problem that begins when one of the nails gets embedded into the toe’s skin.
Its main symptom is pain and redness in the affected area, although it can also come with inflammation, pus and other complications if it gets infected.
Ingrown toenails are related to the continuous use of inappropriate shoes, usually made of rigid materials that prevent the foot breathing.
While it isn’t considered a serious problem, timely treatment is always recommended to avoid complications.
Fortunately, there are 100% natural ingredients with properties that accelerate recovery while also creating a protective barrier against germs.
In this article, we want to share 6 effective options that you can apply to treat ingrown nails.
Natural Remedies to Treat Ingrown Nails
1. Honey
Applying honey to treat ingrown toenails offers an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect that is useful for recovering from this affliction.
These properties help to prevent infections and soften the skin to make extracting the nail easier.
How to use it
- Take a small amount of organic honey and rub it onto the affected nail.
- Leave it to act for 30 minutes, then rinse.
- Repeat twice a day every day until the problem is under control.
Do you want to know more?
Read: 7 Surprising Uses for Honey
2. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus essential oil has anti-mycotic and antibacterial propertiesthat can treat ingrown nails. Applying it reduces the inflammation of the toe and soothes the pain.
How to use it
- Wet a piece of cotton wool with eucalyptus oil and apply it to the affected toe.
- Leave it to act for 30 minutes or cover it with a bandage for 2 hours.
- Use every day until the nail is cured.
3. Garlic
The sulfuric components of garlic can be used as a natural solution against the inflammation and pain caused by ingrown nails. These properties prevent the affected skin from getting infected and soften calluses, which helps to relieve them.
How to use it
- Grind a clove of garlic and apply the paste to the affected area with a bandage.
- If you like, mix it with a little olive oil to increase the hydrating and restorative effect.
- Leave it to act for at least 4 hours and rinse with cold water.
- Repeat the treatment every day.
4. Sea salt
Sea salt is a relaxing and anti-inflammatory ingredient that can control the irritation and pain caused by this condition.
Its use protects the skin from infections and subsequently eases the extraction of the nail.
How to use it
- Mix half a cup of sea salt with tepid water and submerge your feet for 20 minutes.
- Optionally, mix the salt with a little coconut oil and use it as an exfoliant on the affected nail.
- Repeat application at least 3 times a week.
5. Ginger infusion
Gingerol, one of the active components of ginger, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help you to treat ingrown nails. Using it directly on the affected area soothes the pain and reduces redness.
How to use it
- Put a piece of ginger root in hot water and leave it to infuse for several minutes so that it gets concentrated.
- When it reaches a reasonable temperature, submerge your feet in the water and leave them for 20 minutes.
- Dry well and repeat every day.
- If you like, you can buy ginger oil and apply it directly to the painful nail.
See this article:
The Medicinal Benefits of Ginger and 5 Ways to Add it to Your Diet
6. Apple cider vinegar
Applying apple cider vinegar to your nails not only prevents fungal infections, but also reduces redness and inflammation.
Its natural acids re-establish the skin’s pH and promote rapid relief from ingrown toenails.
How to use it
- Mix a cup of apple cider vinegar with tepid water in a bowl and submerge your feet for 30 minutes.
- If you like, wet a piece of cotton wool with apple cider vinegar and apply it directly.
- Repeat the treatment every day until it improves.
Are you ready to deal with this problem? Try any of these remedies and discover that you can treat the symptoms without turning to aggressive treatments.
However, if these don’t work after several days, consult a doctor to find out about other alternatives.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Accame MEC. Gengibre (Zingiber officinale): un posible agente antiinflamatorio. Panorama actual del medicamento 2015; 39 (382): 330-333. Available at: https://botplusweb.portalfarma.com/Documentos/2015/5/5/84278.pdf. Accessed 12/23, 2018.
- Gómez Estrada HA, González Ruiz KN, Domingo Medina J. Actividad antiinflamatoria de productos naturales. Boletín latinoamericano y del caribe de plantas medicinales y aromáticas 2011; 10 (3). Available at: https://www.redalyc.org/html/856/85618379003/. Accessed 12/23, 2018.
- Zamora LG, Arias ML. Calidad microbiológica y actividad antimicrobiana de la miel de abejas sin aguijón. Revista biomédica 2011; 22 (2): 59-66. Available at: http://www.medigraphic.com/cgi-bin/new/resumen.cgi?IDARTICULO=31370. Accessed 12/23, 2018.
