| Ingrown toenails are nails that have become | | | | swelling, with redness and clear fluid oozing from the |
| embedded in the surrounding soft flesh the toe. The | | | | site. If this is ignored, then it can become infected and |
| big toe is most often affected, but other toes can also | | | | subsequently painful and swollen. At this point, walking |
| suffer. Here is some essential advice on the causes, | | | | can become unbearable. If sill left without suitable |
| symptoms and a natural treatment option for painful | | | | treatment, pus will exude from the infected site and |
| ingrown toenails. | | | | red streaks can appear along the foot and shoot up |
| Causes | | | | the leg. At this point the infection will have become |
| Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful. They are | | | | dangerous as it could enter the bloodstream, causing |
| caused by a number of factors: wearing short, tight | | | | you to become ill, possible leading to the loss of a toe, |
| shoes, socks, or hosiery, poor nail care, injury to the nail | | | | foot or leg, if gangrene subsequently sets in. Rest |
| bed; fungus and heredity factors. Obese people are | | | | assured though- thankfully, this is a rare occurrence. |
| particularly susceptible - their feet gain weight just like | | | | Treatment |
| the rest of the body and the skin can swell up and | | | | In order to treat an ingrown toenail at its early stages |
| around the toenail. If you combine this with the excess | | | | soak your foot in a tub filled with warm, strong sage |
| pressure placed upon the feet, and a bit of well | | | | and yarrow tea(make this by using ½ cup or 60 |
| intentioned but poor nail clipping, and you have a ready | | | | milliliters of each dried herb per gallon of boiling water, |
| recipe for pain. | | | | then steep, strain and cool until comfortable, ½ |
| Most ingrown toenails are actually self-inflicted. If you | | | | cup or 120 milliliters of sea salt, and a few drops of tea |
| rip off your toenails with your fingers instead of cutting | | | | tree lavender essential oil for 10 - 15 minutes. Dry |
| them, you leave jagged edges. These dig into the nail | | | | thoroughly. Now take a sliver of cotton and using a |
| grooves when your tight shoes press against the | | | | clean toothpick, ever so gently wedge the cotton |
| toenail. Improper clipping by cutting the nail too short | | | | under the offending toenail. Leave it there until the |
| and rounding the corners can cause the same | | | | toenail grows out. It will help direct the nail's growth |
| problem. | | | | over the skin. Apply a drop of thyme, lavender or tea |
| Symptoms | | | | tree essential oil on the site daily to keep any infection |
| An infection called paronychia can result when a | | | | at bay. |
| toenail penetrates the flesh. It begins as a minor | | | | |