Health - Wellness
How To Get Rid Of An Ingrown Fingernail
By K. COSSEY
An ingrown nail is a nail that grows into either one side or both sides of the skin around it. This happens when the ridges connecting the nail and the skin are broken, and while ingrowns typically occur on toes because your feet are squeezed into shoes for most of the day, they can also occur on your fingers.
Ingrown fingernails can be caused by cutting nails improperly, frequent handwashing, getting manicures, or simply having curved fingernails. Symptoms of an ingrown fingernail include pain, tenderness, throbbing, swelling, or redness, and it can lead to infection or severe pain if left untreated; here are some of your options.
To treat mild ingrown nails, soak the finger in warm salt water for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse and dry the finger, then apply ointment before wrapping it in cotton or gauze. You can also use dental floss to separate the nail and skin. People with diabetes, neuropathy, or circulation problems see a doctor for ingrown nail treatment.