How can I treat my ingrown toenail without going to a dr?
155574
It depends on the sevarity of the ingrowth, your pain tolerance and other medical problems you may have. If it is not infected, not causing you undoo pain and you are otherwise healthy, there are several things you might do. First soaking the affected foot in warm water several times a day will soften and loosen skin around the nail Epsom salts can be desolved in the water, but aren't vital. Vasilene or antibiotic ointment (only if not allergic) applied to the site will also help keep it soft and hopfully allow the naill to grow out.  Commercial "ingrown nail tools" are avalible at many drug stores, but i would not use one without proper instruction  by a medical professional.  \n\nHowever, if the toe is infected (hot, red or discolored puss ect.); the pain is substantal, increasing or there is numbness,; or you are diabetic, have poor circulation, or other health problems you should at least have a medical professional check it and determine if you can take care of it yourself or if you might need their help.  Frankly, in  many cases it's worth a trip to the Doctor just to get it taken care of and for the pain to be gone. Good Luck
1073355
I'm not sure if there's a way you can do it yourself hun...go see a dermatologist and speak with him/her about the medical procedure.\n\nBe safe!
1138202
fungus.  There are over the counter fungal medications for nails or see your doc.
632960
If you can you should go see a specialist. I'm not a doctor but you may have Onychomycosis. This is a fungal infection of the finger or toe nails. I have had this condition and it's curable. I used LAMISIL, I'm sure you have seen the commercials on TV. This is very expensive at this time till generic version comes out. I think it was around $14 a tablet taken once a day. I had insurance cover it (phew). It basically passes through your body to your nails and kills the fungus and grows new health nails. The therapy takes several months.\n\nI have spoken to a doctor that said it will not reoccur and it has. He gave me some solution to use daily but didn't work. I've spoken to another and said that it will not kill me but your nails will look unattractive. I'm still trying to decide if I should take Lamisil again. I'm hesitant because it seems to have side effects to the liver. Read about the side effects. You need to get a blood test before taking it. There are tons of home remedy but I and many people on a medical forum have not found one that works, including bleach, vinegar, and nail polish to name a few.\n\nI have noticed that my nails have become dry and less glossy over the years. I think the oil treatment helps. Oil displaces water. Fungus needs water (moisture). I'm trying this now.\n\nI'm a Scuba instructor and I am constantly wet. I may always have this condition but yours may be curable.\n\nCheck these sites for more information. There are many sites on the subject.\n\nhttp://www.coolnurse.com/nail_fungus.htm\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nail-fungus/DS00084\n\nGood luck to ya!
522503
I have had many ingrown toenails--they never "clicked."  If this is something you have had before, then you would know if it is the same thing I assume.  (You obviously know your body better than any of us possibly could.)  If that is what it is, soaking it in warm water and Epsom salt really helps to soothe the throbbing.  ***Watch for the area around the toe to become red and swollen and have green or yellowish pus seeping out.  If this is happening, then it is infected and you will need antibiotics.  Let the toenail work itself out if you can, otherwise you may have to have the DR take it out.    Not a pleasant procedure, I assure you, but well worth the pain relief in the long run.  \n\nIt sounds to me like you may have a broken toe though.  Have you stubbed it, or had any trauma to it recently?  If this is the case, there is not much you can do with it.  You can immobilize it by taping it to the toe next to it with a piece of cotton in between.  Then apply ice as needed to reduce swelling and discomfort. GL\n\nNOTE: It goes without saying that I am NOT a DR, and can only give you my input, professional advice is always recommended.
780827
Since there are a number of conditions that can lead to the loss of a toenail, please do not try to self-diagnose or diagnose from what people tell you at this site.\n\nYou need to go to your primary care doctor, who may order some tests or who may be able to diagnose your case and prescribe a remedy by just looking at your toe.
216976
I too suffered many years with ingrown toenails on my big toes.  They are hereditary by the way.\nI used to try and dig and cut them myself but unfortunately I inherited my father's thick toes and it got too painful.\nI used to get it so bad that it actually hurt to walk and God forbid I hit my foot into anything.\n\nWhat I eventually did and I would highly recommend to anyone is to see a foot Doctor( podiatrist) and have them surgically removed (not the entire nail, just the ingrown part).  It is a simple procedure and I have not had any pain since.  \nGood luck
632302
Take the Homeopathic Remedy LEDUM 30 immediately it prevents tetanus and relieves the pain and is specifically meant for this use i.e IF YOU STEP ON A NAIL !\nTake care and God Bless you !
678212
just go to the doctor
1005196
Sorry I'm not a doc but I had an ingrown toenail when I was pregnant. I couldn't reach my toe very well and it was too sore to let anyone else touch. When I asked a doctor about it she was going to charge $80 to trim it (no way) but she gave me tips on how to trim it so that the nail would grow out (didn't work). Finally, after about 6 months of messing around with it the offending spur of nail got soft (yes it was infected) and came off. So, unless you have an angry red area that is shooting up your toe (serious infection) you probably are not at risk for gangrene. Yes I am a tightwad, and stubborn, and I should have gotten it taken care of sooner. But I lived though the whole thing and I still have my toe (which is starting to get sore again).
684415
Sure, you cut a V at the top of the nail, and it will pull the ingrown toenail out of the surrounding skin to "heal itself".  Or you can dig and dig at it and cut the darn thing out of your skin (of course that hurts like a biatch). I had that problem.  Try wearing a wider shoe, don't leave your socks on all the time, and keep your toenails clipped.  This will help.
479957
Do not cute your nails too short.  Let them grow a little.\nDo noPrevention\n\nTo help prevent an ingrown toenail:\n\nTrim your toenails straight across. Don't curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toe. If you have your toenails done at a nail salon, be sure to tell your pedicurist to trim your nails straight across. If you have circulation problems in your feet from disorders such as diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, see a podiatrist regularly to have your nails professionally trimmed. \nKeep toenails at a moderate length. Trim toenails so that they're even with the tips of your toes. If you trim your toenails too short, the pressure from your shoes on your toes' tissue may direct your nails to grow into the tissue. \nWear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that place excessive pressure on your toes or pinch your toes may cause your nails to grow into surrounding tissue. If you have nerve impairment to your feet, you may not be able to sense if your shoes fit too tightly. Take care to buy and wear properly fitted shoes, preferably from a shoe store specializing in fitting shoes for people with foot problems. \nWear protective footwear. If your work puts you at risk of injuring your toes, buy footwear such as steel-toed shoes, which protect your toes. \n\n I've had to get an ingrown toenail removed before.  I used to bite my toenails and tear them off.  I've had to do my own getting rid of toenails too.  I don't get them anymore because I let them grow and then cut them, no more tearing.\nHope this helps.
310674
I did the same and didn't want to go to the doctor and ended up going anyway.... This is what he told me to do..\n\n\n1. Soak it in warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes. (adding something to the water is not necessary)!\n\n2. Dry it really well.\n\n3. Take some Hydrogen Peroxide put some on a Q-tip and apply it to the affected area.\n\n4. Rinse off the peroxide. Dry really well (blow dryer suggested) but not necessary.\n\n5. Next you will need to have some (Betadine) (Povidone Iodine Topical Solution). Take another q-tip dip it in and apply to the toe making sure you cover the whole affected area. \n\n6. Dry with a blow dryer to make sure it is really dry! The only time it should be covered with a band-aid or gauze is if you have your shoes on.. The more air it gets the better..\n\n7. This will have to be done three times a day.\n\nIf you do this it will get better and you shouldn't have to go to the Doc.  This is what i did and it worked!...It will take a while since you waited so long, but it will get better.\nThe nail will have to grow out before you can do anything about it.  When you trim your nails let them stick out a little not too much....This will help.  I know from experience this is no fun so....Good Luck!! :-)\n\nHope this helps you!\n\nIf you do all of this it should go away!\n\nHope this works for you! Hope you feel better!\n\n\nForgot to mention that it was really bad and infected and the doctor told me that if it didn't work i would have to have the toenail removed.  This really worked because i didn't have any surgery at all and the doctor was impressed that it ended up getting better with no surgery!  It was really puffy also.  Again good luck!!
375837
Try anti fungal foot drops on your fingers. Maybe that could help. Look in the footcare section at your local supermarket/retail pharmacy store. Look for a clear bottle called something like Lotrimine, not the cream u want the drops. try putting that on your bare nails. Also report the nail salon to your local health department if they caused this. You could take the nail shop to small claims court and sue them for the medicine to heal your nails because they are not following health codes.
707117
This was the closest thing i could find:\n ingrowing toe nails\nonychocryptosis?
1179101
You have to remove the ingrown hair and clean the area with witch hazle or alcohol and keep it clean so it wont get infected
826858
I've had similar problems, not that I didn't have the money, just that I didn't want to spend the money on a doctor cutting on my foot. I had a bad one that went on for several months, soaking it and trying to fix it myself, until finally one day it hurt so bad I couldn't walk on it. I used some Peroxide to wash and clean it and then slowly started working with a small pair of scissors, the kind most women have for whatever they use them for lol, to move then end of the nail up out of the place that hurts...it took a while and it was painful at times, but as soon as I got it worked up and could break it off, it felt sooo much better. I know this isn't the safest or healthiest way, but if you keep everything clean and sterile it wouldn't hurt. I fixed mine and it's not bothered me for over 4 months now. Hope this helps a little.