Toenail, Ingrown

Though common in occurrence, the development of an ingrown toenail can cause a great deal of discomfort to the affected person. The in growth can become excruciatingly painful and normally makes walking difficult if not halting and painful at most times. What occurs is that the toenail grows towards the inner toe instead of in an outward direction and the nail cuts gradually into the soft tissue along one side of the toe of the affected person. The disorder is most likely to affect the big toe and due to its size, this toe is most vulnerable to ingrown nails especially when nail growth is not good or symmetrical in the person. As the toenail bites into the tissues, it can cause inflammation to arise in the tissue it cuts through, the affected area of the skin can often become very red, it can also turn really hot and swelling occurs as a direct consequence of the inflammation in the area. It becomes very painful to wearing shoes while touch any part of the inflamed area and walking in shoes can often become near impossible and extremely uncomfortable to the person.

The beginnings of an ingrown toenail are said to occur as soon as a toe nail which has been clipped too short or close to the sides of the nail bed starts growing into the nail bed tissues. Ingrown nails can also easily develop following the physical and painful stubbing of the toe-by accidental tripping or kicking actions for example. The skin surrounding the nail become injured really easily once the nail beings to press against the tissues surrounding the toe-as a consequence, this situation will easily allow an infection to occur and the result is persistent pain and great discomfort for the person so affected.

Supplements and herbs

Supplementation can be carried out with the essential vitamin, the vitamin C, the presence of this vitamin will help in the prevention of hangnails and at the same time, it will also heal the infection and the result will be a lessening in the inflammation affecting the toe. The presence of this vitamin will also boosts the functioning of the immune system and help in the repair of tissues affected by the ingrown toenail. The usual cause of hangnails in a person is because of a deficiency of the B-vitamin-this must be corrected by regular supplements of the vitamin.

The application of herbal remedies is suggested to prevent the occurrence of further infection and these herbs will also help in relieving the inflammation present in the affected toe-these topical herbal remedies must be applied on a regular basis.

Topical treatments include soaking the affected foot in warm water to which five drops of tea tree oil has been added-use about four qt. of warm water to ensure ideal infusion of the herbal oil. After the foot has been soaked, dry it using a clean towel and then insert a very thin strand of sterile cotton gauze in the area between the nail and the flesh so as to gently lift the nail up and away from where it touches the flesh-though painful, this action repeated over many days will help the nail to grow out and away from the skin, it will result in the correction of the ingrown nail. The cotton gauze must be changed on a daily basis. The affected skin on the toe can also be healed by adding a few drops of St. John's wort oil to application-this herbal oil will greatly soothe away the pain present in the affected toe. The inflammation in the tissues surrounding the ingrown toenail can also be healing effectively by applying calendula cream or tincture to the affected area.

Additional things you may do

Try at all times to wear very soft, and comfortable fitting shoes or use open sandals-the priority is comfort not style at least as long as the ingrown nail persists in giving you trouble. The wearing of very tight or the pointed shoe types can aggravate the condition as such shoes will press the nail further into the affected flesh-causing more pain and discomfort. When clipping toenails, try not to cut too sharply or closely to the corners of the toenails and do not cut too near the skin itself-this is the only factor for toenail in growth in other wise normal nails-always try to clip straight across the nail as this action will prevent the growth of the nail and new nail will not bore into the flesh as a result.

Usual dosage

• Vitamin B complex, 100 mg two times a day.
• Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg.

COMMENTS

From Jon

I've found in the cases where to toe is pressing against one side and causing inflammation and pain. Cayenne pepper works really well by simply applying the powder topically. With the inflammation basically gone overnight and pain relief in less than 30 minutes. It should even work better/faster if you use something stronger like Tabasco sauce or Piri Piri. And if you rub whole seeds against the area, you don't even get residue in your socks.

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