Ingrown toenails are painful and uncomfortable. Read on to find out how to use essential oils for ingrown toenails.
What are Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails, also known as onychocryptosis, happen when the corners of your toenail grow into the skin right next to them. Your big toe is most susceptible to get an ingrown toenail. It usually causes discomfort and pain, but it can soon also progress into infection and become a recurrent issue if left untreated.
Causes of Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails happen in both men and women and are relatively more common in people with sweaty feet. Older people are also at risk because toenails condense with age.
Ill-fitting footwear, trauma to the nail bed, incorrect trimming, excessive physical activity, and poor feet hygiene can all result in ingrown toenails. Those with diabetes or nerve damage should be especially cautious, as lack of blood flow can delay healing. It can also have a genetic predisposition.
Early manifestations can include tenderness of the skin around the ingrown nail, pain on pressure, or fluid accumulation. In case of infection, there can be bleeding, pus discharge, or overgrowth of skin.
Essential Oils for Ingrown Toenails
If you are looking for natural ways to eliminate Ingrown Toenail we have got you covered. You can try applying different types of Essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil or Oregano oil in the infected area. These are natural antibiotics that are effective in treating ingrown toenails right from the comfort of your home.
1. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil, also known as Melaleuca oil, is made from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. This oil is a potent antiseptic that hinders bacterial and fungal growth. It is safe when used topically, and should not be ingested orally as it can be toxic.
2. Peppermint Oil
The Menthol in peppermint oil helps in reducing the pain, and its strong antimicrobial properties keep the toenail from further infection.
3. Lavender Oil
This oil, too, has antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities and is quite mild. It also combats against inflammation and relieves pain.
4. Eucalyptus Oil
This oil also has antimicrobial properties and has been used to mitigate pain as well.
5. Oregano Oil
It acts as an antibacterial, antiseptic, and palliative agent, which efficiently provides relief from the pain of having an ingrown toenail.
Additionally, naturally available products like Epsom salt, coconut oil, baking soda, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, lemon, garlic, and onion are found to be highly effective in treating Ingrown toenail. Any of these products when combined with Essential oils enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.
How to Use
- Take 2-3 drops of any of the above essential oils and combine them with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil.
- Take a few drops of the prepared solution onto a cotton pad.
- Gently apply the soaked cotton pad on the ingrown toenail and the skin surrounding it.
OR
- Take a bowl filled with warm water.
- Add 8-10 drops of any of the essential oils mentioned above.
- Then, add two tablespoons of either Epsom salt or baking soda or lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar to the bowl.
- Soak your feet in it for 20-30 minutes.
- Pat dry your feet with a clean towel.
- Follow any of these techniques twice daily for optimum results.
Conclusion
Using essential oils in combination with other treatments can resolve a painful ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails can get painful if not taken care of properly. If you are diabetic, then please do not try to treat yourself at home and visit a doctor to get it removed surgically.