If yes, then I am sure you know the pain that comes with it!
Ingrown toenails can be slightly painful as the nail grows in the skin. It can swell up, in which case your doctor will recommend an antibiotical cream, nail cutting by a professional or in some cases nail removal (only done by a professional).
There are different causes for ingrown nails. It could be that the nail is too large for the toe, trauma, e.g. being stepped on, stabbing etc., but the most common cause is cutting the nail improper or wearing tight shoes.
We recommend some home remedies, including one of our oil blends, but before treating the symptoms, you need to determine the cause and ensure to eliminate it as well as you can!
Here are some home remedies we recommend:
Proper footwear - make sure the shoe is not too tight on your toes. Good shoes can help to recover but also prevent ingrown nail. In the summer, open shoes are great as your toes will have plenty of space.
A warm foot bath - can be relaxing, especally when especially when the toe is swollen or infected. Soak your feet in warm water for 20 minutes. If you are struggling with the proper cutting of the nail, the bath will also soften the nail, and cutting will be much easier.
A hot and cold bath or showers - promotes circulation and stimulates the immune system. Start with putting your nail in/ under hot water for one minute hot (you should be able to tolerate the temperature) and one minute cold. Repeat this three times to complete a set.
Our oil blend - you might have needed painkillers or even an antibiotic cream in the past, but with our oil blend, you have both in one - let me share the recipe with you:
You need:
one 10 ml oil bottle for your blend
10 ml carrier oil, I used Jojoba oil
6 drops TeaTree essential oil
6 drops Lavender essential oil
Steps:
Pour the jojoba oil carefully into the bottle.
Add the essential oils.
Close the bottle and shake well.
Use as needed!
This mix is lovely as the lavender oil is excellent for healing and infections, but also it is a great pain killer.
The TeaTree oil blends well with lavender. It is an antiseptic, relaxing, and is an immune stimulant that helps with the healing process.
Jojoba oil is generally a gentle oil on the skin, but you can use any carrier oil if you like to!
This blend should relieve the pain as well as slight infections within 1-2 days. Please speak to your health care provider if symptoms are getting worse.
Should you experience skin sensitivity, dilute the oil further.
We hope this article has given you some more information on what you can do when struggling with ingrown nails and how to prevent them. Please feel free to contact us here if you are having questions or are interested in a consultation.
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