What is the best way to treat an ingrown nail yourself?

Do you suffer from an ingrown nail? Oh well, that can be quite painful and a huge burden during the day. Fortunately, we can hopefully make you happy with the news that you do not always have to go straight to the doctor for this, but can also remedy an ingrown nail yourself.

There are various steps you can take to relieve the discomfort at home (depending on severity). In this blog we would like to inform you how you can best solve an ingrown nail yourself using 6 handy steps.If this does not work, we recommend that you consult a pedicurist or a GP.

Step 1: Soften the nail and skin

Before you start, it is important to soften the nail and surrounding skin first. You can do this by, for example, soaking your feet or hands in a warm bath. Add some Epsom salt for extra softening it. It is then wise to use a goodhand cream orfoot cream (depending on where the ingrown nail occurs) to hydrate the skin and to soften.

A good choice for this are our Daily Protection  products.Click on one of the images below, depending on where you suffer from an ingrown nail (hands or feet):

 Have you completed this step? Good, then let's not wait any longer and move on to the next step!

Step 2: Carefully trim the nail

When the nail and skin are well hydrated, we will carefully trim the ingrown nail. Use a clean nail clipper!

And again do this very carefully and do not cut the nail too short. Try to cut the nail in a straight line, without sharp corners. On to the next step.

Step 3: Keep the nail clean

After cutting the nail, it is important to keep it clean to prevent any risk of infection. Use a mild antibacterial soap to wash your feet or hands and dry them thoroughly. Apart from trying to solve your ingrown nail, daily nail care is very important.

Read here how you can take care of your nails in 6 steps.

Step 4: Cover the nails 

It is then important to cover thenails with a wound dressing and/or gauze compress. You can combine this withantibacterial agents, so that you once again minimize the risk of infections. Cover this nail and be sure to repeatedly change the wound dressing and gauze pad.

Step 5: Wear comfortable shoes

Wear shoes that are not too tight, as this can contribute to ingrown nails.Therefore, choose shoes that fit well and offer enough room for your toes to move.

It's also a good excuse to wear comfortable sneakers more often!

Step 6: Consult a professional (if necessary)

If the ingrown nail is severe, persists or becomes infected, we recommend that you consult a pedicurist or doctor. There are many options that can help resolve an ingrown nail (for example, installing nail braces).

However, you cannot solve the problem yourself and it is up to a professional (specialized in your specific problem) to make an assessment.

Prevention is better than cure

Hopefully you find the above steps useful and will soon be able to fix an ingrown nail yourself. However, prevention is always better than cure, so it is wise to learn more about this. Don't walk around with an ingrown nail for too long and consult a professional if you have any doubts.

If you want to know how to prevent an ingrown nail instead of treating it, we recommend that you read our blog about it.