Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail is when a toe nail cuts into the surface of the nearby skin. This common condition mostly affects the big toes.

What Causes An Ingrown Toenail?

Ingrown toenails occur when the nails are not cut evenly. This leads to irregular growth of the nails. In turn this leads to their growing deep into the skin at the side of the nail, injuring it and causing a lot of pain.

Natural Treatment and Prevention

Ingrown toenails are curable and can be effectively controlled. Preventive measures include trimming your toenails straight across. The level of the nails should be the same as the tip of the toe. The sharp edges around the corners of the toenail should be filed so they cannot cut into the flesh at the sides of the nail bed. If you already have an ingrown toenail, you can use geranium oil and shea butter to the painful area. Geranium oil is a powerful antiseptic as well as having healing properties, and thus it will speed up the healing of the affected area. Shea butter is a deep skin conditioner and helps to make the skin smooth and flexible. If your toenail has grown too deep into your flesh and you are unable to remove the appendage nail by yourself, you will need to visit a doctor as early as you can. The doctor will remove the nail surgically. The skin and underlying tissue will then heal properly. However, cover the area with socks and wear shoes when you go out or are at work, to prevent the open nail bed from getting infected.