Ingrown Toenails …what are they?
A red swollen toe, especially around the nail, extremely sensitive to touch (ouch!). The side of a toenail penetrates the soft skin around it
Why you need to pay attention?
Ingrown toenails make it hard to get around. Walking is painful; you yelp when the inflamed area is touched so how can you wear shoes? The nail infection can develop into a foot sore or ulcer. Painful, swollen and red, tissue around the big toe (usually it’s this one) may discharge pus. Here’s how to sort ingrown toenails.
Tissue can overgrow, decay or die because of lack of blood flow. Nails can ridge and thin and split. A small cut can become serious because of lack of blood flow and increased sensitivity. The feet and legs may swell. More serious ailments include bone infection, Lichen planus and Diabetes.
Why do ingrown toenails occur?
Candidates for ingrown toenails often have diabetes or obesity or problems with kidneys, heart or thyroid. Feet that sweat heavily and shoes that are too tight (or too big) can lead to this. Repetitive sports activities (dancing, football, boxing) undue pressure on the toes. Foot troubles such as bunions, hammertoes, bone spurs, flat-footedness can cause ingrown toenails. Unusually curved toenails or deformed toes, or nailbeds that are shaped abnormally are factors. Sometimes there is a genetic susceptibility, sometimes foot hygiene is poor.
How do you know you have one?
An X-ray will show how far into the skin the nail has penetrated.
What to do at home?
Directly apply Apple Cider Vinegar ACV (dilute with purified water)
Soak foot in bath with ¼ cup ACV or warm soapy water. Do this 2-3 times daily
No heels, comfortable spacious shoes, barefoot when you can
Apply tea tree of lavender essential oil with cotton balls.
Why use homeopathy? It addresses the issue naturally and the problem does not usually return.If you go the conventional route, an antibiotic may sort you. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, itching (vaginal) headache and rash. Surgery wll remove the ingrown toenail. Another ingrown nail may emerge. Meantime stitches will need to mend and scar tissue may form. (more pain)
Here are Four top remedies that reduce pain, swelling, and tenderness, and eliminate pus. Natural, no side-effects.
Thick, rough nails surrounded by swollen tissue. Sores form, the nail breaks easily,
Touch is indescribably painful: Graphites
Pus discharge and painful, weeping fingertips point to Silicea
Infected nail with an intense splinter-like pain; touch intolerable on slightest pressure. Pus is thick and yellow and smelly. Abscess appears. Hepar Sulph or Hepar Sulph Calcareum.
Sharp, pulsating pains and severe soreness around the nail indicate a lesser-known remedy: Magnetis Polus Australis
A natural homecare suggestion: Soak a bit of cotton wool in Hypercal tincture and push it under the nail. Sometimes it’s only possible to get a tiny bit under the nail but as the cotton wool dries it expands. Replace the cotton wool morning and evening. Each time it’s possible to get more cotton wool under the nail. Which gradually pulls the nail out.
Keep on your toes. If you have an infected nail what remedy echoes your symptoms?
There may be other remedies that better match your picture. Get in touch to find out and for how often and how much to take.