Treating An Ingrown Toenail With Garlic

Thanks to garlic’s antiseptic properties, this bulbous plant can help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by an ingrown toenail and speed up the healing process.

Did you know that you can treat an ingrown toenail with garlic ? Pressed garlic to be exact.

An ingrown toenail is a problem that many people suffer from. In this article, we’ll share how to treat an ingrown toenail with a remedy that soothes, disinfects, and reduces inflammation.

Ingrown toenails occur when one side of the nail curves inward and begins to grow into the flesh of the toe. This is one of the main reasons why people go to a chiropodist or sometimes even a podiatrist.

It is definitely not just an aesthetic problem. It is mainly the severe pain caused by ingrown toenails that makes people decide to see a specialist.

Why do ingrown toenails occur?

The most common cause of ingrown toenails is not clipping your nails properly.

Another reason is wearing very tight shoes that don’t actually fit your feet.

Also, people with osteoarthritis often suffer from excess skin, which increases the risk of ingrown toenails.

Any type of toe deformity can be a risk that we need to watch out for and look at by a professional.

Treating an ingrown toenail: the right way to cut

Types of Ingrown Toenails

There are two types of ingrown toenails and we need to keep that in mind when trimming our nails and treating this problem. It should be noted that both types cause inflammation, pain, infections and cracks in the skin of the toe :

When the corner or edge of a nail begins to grow into the side of the toe.
When the top of the nail curves inward and begins to grow into the toe.

It is not uncommon for this condition to occur multiple times in the same patient. For this reason, it is wise that you not only learn how to treat an ingrown toenail, but also consult a pedicurist or podiatrist who can give you tips to prevent the problem from recurring.

Can you treat an ingrown toenail with garlic?

Garlic is a superfood with multiple healing properties, both internally and externally. Not only does it add great flavor to the dishes we prepare, it also acts as a powerful antibiotic and antioxidant.

Some of the beneficial properties of garlic include:

It can be used as a fungicide and has antiviral and antibiotic properties.
It contains nutrients for the skin.
Garlic strengthens your immune system.
It improves circulation and can help prevent cardiovascular disease.
It helps you recover faster after colds and flu.
Garlic helps to clear the body of heavy metals.

It is one of the best antioxidants available.

How can you treat an ingrown toenail?

Water with salt

This first step is especially beneficial for easing the pain.

All you have to do is heat a little salt water and then dip your foot in it for a few minutes. This will soften the nail, making it easier to get to the ingrown part. That way you can easily cut it with small scissors.

However, in case the ingrown nail is very deep, we advise you to go to a specialist. In some cases where the nail has penetrated very deeply, even minor surgery may be required. In this case, it would be too painful to remove the nail without anaesthetic.

Give this problem the attention it deserves and don’t ignore it.

Treating an ingrown toenail: a foot bath

A remedy of garlic

One of the most commonly used ancient remedies to treat the pain of an ingrown toenail is crushed garlic. This is because garlic has highly effective natural antiseptic properties, while reducing pain and inflammation at the same time.

Ingredients

1 clove of garlic
20 grams of aloe vera gel
1 plaster

Preparation

Mince the garlic completely.
You can use it directly or mix it with aloe vera gel to make it easier to apply.

You can also cut the garlic in half and apply it directly to your skin.

Application

Apply the garlic or garlic paste to the ingrown toenail and put a bandage around it so it stays on better.
Leave the garlic for at least 30 minutes and repeat the same procedure eight hours later. You can also apply the garlic before going to bed and let it do its job overnight.
If you have sensitive skin, we recommend applying a little aloe vera gel to the toe before applying the garlic. This way you prevent the garlic from irritating your skin.
Repeat this process for several days until you see an improvement.