If you've noticed a painful, red area on one side of your toe, you may have an ingrown toenail. If the side or corner of your toenail is irritating the skin on your toe, it is usually no cause for concern. Ingrown toenails can be cured at home with items you probably already have around the house.
Warm Water Soak
Ingrown toenails can cause swelling of the toe, particularly if the area around the toenail becomes irritated or infected. The more the toe swells, the more the toenail will dig into the side of the toe, causing further pain and irritation. To stop this cycle, soak the affected foot in warm water for 20 minutes, three times a day, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Avoid soaking your foot in unsanitary water that is shared by other people, like the water in a hot tub or a bathtub. Instead, fill a clean bowl with water and wash the bowl out thoroughly with soap and water each time you use it to soak your foot.
Cotton
The Mayo Clinic recommends placing a small piece of cotton underneath the ingrown toenail to help stop irritation of the toe. Remove a small, sterile piece of cotton from a cotton ball, a piece of cotton gauze or a cotton swab. Before placing the cotton under the nail, clean the area thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water, or soak the foot in water for 20 minutes. After drying the area with a clean towel, carefully pull back the swollen area of the toe and slide small pieces of cotton underneath the corner of the nail. Use enough cotton to slightly raise the nail away from the skin and create a cushion between the skin and the toenail. Change the cotton once a day, recommends the Mayo Clinic.
Nail Clippers
Cut the toenail straight across as it grows out, recommends podiatrist William Van Pelt, D.P.M. To prevent infection, wash and dry your foot completely before trimming, and use clean nail clippers that are not shared by other people in the household. Carefully cut the toenail the entire way across, taking care to remove any corners that may be stuck against the tender skin of the toenail. "You should cut the nail so that it's just over the crease of the nailfold," says Dr. Van Pelt. Cutting below the area where the skin meets the nail can create irritation when the nail begins to grow back.
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