How To Treat Ingrown Toenails With Essential Oils

When part of your toenail begins growing into the skin around it, you will end up with an ingrown toenail. Rarely do ingrown toenails heal themselves; however, you may be able to treat the problem at home by using essential oils. If you do nothing for your ingrown nail, it could become infected and you may experience a great deal of pain.

How To Use Essential Oils For This

No matter what type of essential oil you select, they can all be used in the same way. The first step is to cut down the nail by the ingrown toenail. Trim it down as short as you can near the skin, and try to get as close to the ingrown nail as possible.

After doing this, you will need to apply one or two drops of the essential oil of your choice. Finally, cover the nail with a bandage. This will keep the oil in place and will help the wound stay moist. You may need to do this daily for one week or longer, but it may heal the ingrown nail and help it grow properly.

Types Of Oils To Use

There are hundreds of types of essential oils you can purchase, and each type is derived from natural sources. Essential oils are often used for medical purposes, but they are also used to create scents in a house and for cleaning tasks. Here are some of the essential oils you can use for your ingrown toenail:

• Clove oil – Clove essential oil is commonly used for treating digestive issues, but it is also great for wounds because it has antiseptic properties. Clove oil cleans out wounds and removes germs from the areas. Because it is very strong, you may need to dilute it before applying it to your ingrown toenail.
• Melaleuca oil – This is also known as tea tree oil and is one of the most versatile types of essential oils you can purchase. It is used to treat athlete's foot, fungus infections, and wounds.
• Cypress oil – This type of oil also serves as an antiseptic, but it is not as common as the other types of essential oils.

There are numerous other oils you can also choose from for treating an ingrown toenail. When you purchase them, always look for oils that are made from 100% natural materials.

If you try this method for your ingrown toenail and are still having problems with it, you may need to go to the doctor. A doctor at a center like Lincoln Park Podiatry can talk to you about the methods available for removing or treating the ingrown nail, and this is a good idea if the nail is infected or if it is bothering you.

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