Suffering From Painful Ingrown Toenails? - Adice On Causes, Symptoms And Tretament

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Ingrown Toenails can be described as nails that have become embedded in the soft flesh that surrounds the big toe. Often, it is the big toe that is most affected but other toes can also suffer. Here is some essential advice on possible causes, symptoms and a natural treatment option for painful ingrown toenails.

Causes

Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful. They are caused by a number of factors: wearing either, short, tight shoes, socks or hosiery, poor nail care, injury to the nail bed; fungus and heredity factors. Obese people are particularly susceptible - their feet gain weight just like the rest of the body and the skin can swell up and around the toenail. If you combine this with the excess pressure placed upon the feet, and a bit of well intentioned but poor nail clipping, and you have a ready recipe for pain.

Most ingrown toenails are actually self-inflicted. Be careful, if you rip off your toenails with your fingers instead of sensibly cutting them, you may leave jagged edges and the potential for future problems. These will dig deep into the nail grooves when your tight shoes press hard against the toenail. Improper clipping by cutting the nail too short and rounding the corners can cause the same problem.

Symptoms

An infection called paronychia can result when a toenail penetrates the flesh. It begins as a minor swelling, with redness and clear fluid oozing from the site. If this is ignored, then it can become infected and subsequently painful and swollen. At this point, walking can become unbearable. If still left without appropriate treatment, pus may exude from the infected site and red streaks may appear along the foot and shoot up the leg. At this point the infection will have become dangerous as it could enter the bloodstream, causing you to become ill, possible leading to the loss of a toe, foot or leg, if gangrene subsequently sets in. Be assured though - this is thankfully a rare occurance.

Treatment

In order to treat an ingrown toenail at its early stages soak your foot in a tub filled with warm, strong sage and yarrow tea(make this by using ½ cup or 60 millilitres each of dried herb per gallon of boiling water, then merely steep, strain and cool until adjudged comfortable, 1/2 cup or 120 millilitres of sea salt, and a few drops of tea tree lavender essential oil for 10 - 15 minutes. Dry thoroughly. Now take a sliver of cotton and using a clean toothpick, ever so gently wedge the cotton under the offending toenail. Leave it there until the toenail grows out. It will assist in directing the nails growth over the skin. Apply a drop of either thyme, lavender or tea tree essential oil on the site daily in order to help keep any infection at bay.


Copyright (c) 2010 Eamon Greville

About the Author:
Ingrown Toenails affect many people every year and can be both painful and unsightly. However, there are many measures one can take to alleviate or prevent their occurrence. For more essential advice, information and resources regarding foot problems and the management of sore feet check out
http://www.sorefeetsolved.com .



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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