Ingrown toenails can be painful and uncomfortable, but there are several things you can do at home to treat them. Here are some tips from the search results:

Home Treatment

• Soak your foot in warm, soapy water for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day until the toe improves.
• Place cotton or dental floss under the ingrown edge of the nail after each soaking. This will help the nail grow above the skin edge.
• Apply petroleum jelly to the tender area and bandage the toe.
• Wear open-toed shoes or sandals until your toe feels better.
• Take nonprescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help ease the toe pain.

When to See a Doctor

• If you suspect an infection, or if you have diabetes, circulation problems, or numbness in the toes, skip the home remedies and see your clinician or a foot specialist immediately.
• If your ingrown toenail does not improve or gets worse, including increased pain, swelling, and drainage, contact your doctor.

Surgical Treatment

• If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, or if the condition worsens, you may need to gently lift the edge of the ingrown toenail from its embedded position and insert some cotton or waxed dental floss between the nail and your skin. Change this packing every day.
• Surgery is effective in eliminating the nail edge from growing inward and cutting into the fleshy folds as the toenail grows forward. Permanent removal of the nail may be advised for children with chronic, recurrent infected ingrown toenails.

Remember to cut your nails straight across, rather than tapering them to the corners, to avoid ingrown toenails. Wear shoes that fit correctly and allow plenty of room for your toes, and avoid high heels and tight-fitting shoes.