How Can I Treat an Ingrown Nail on My Finger at Home?

Internal Medicine, Mass General Brigham

Supervised by Suo Lee, MD

For an ingrown finger nail, you can start with gentle home care like warm soaks, careful nail trimming, and keeping the area clean. However, if the pain or swelling gets worse, it's important to see a doctor.

Explanation

When you have an ingrown nail on your finger, begin by soaking your finger in warm water with a bit of mild soap for about 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day. This softens the nail and the skin around it and can help ease the pain. After soaking, gently clean the area and dry it with a clean towel. Use a nail clipper or nail file to carefully trim the nail straight across instead of rounding the edges. This can help prevent the nail from digging further into the skin. Some people also use a small piece of cotton or dental floss to gently lift the nail edge, but do this with extra care to avoid hurting yourself further. You might apply a bit of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to keep the area free from germs, then cover it with a clean bandage if needed. Remember, if you notice increasing redness, swelling, or pus, or if the pain does not get better, it’s best to contact a healthcare professional, as these could be signs of an infection needing further treatment.

(References)

Haneke E. Controversies in the treatment of ingrown nails. Dermatol Res Pract. 2012;2012:783924. doi: 10.1155/2012/783924. Epub 2012 May 20. PMID: 22675345; PMCID: PMC3362847.
Unal E, Yuksekdag S. A fast and effective solution for ingrown toenail: Creation of a 2-mm space between tissue and nail by sutureless lateral longitudinal excision. Arch Dermatol Res. 2021 Nov;313(9):799-803. doi: 10.1007/s00403-020-02177-9. Epub 2021 Jan 12. PMID: 33433721; PMCID: PMC8443495.
Gupta S, Mukhtar M. Ingrown Finger Nail-A Lesser Known Entity. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2023 Apr-Jun;16(2):152-153. doi: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_125_22. PMID: 37554686; PMCID: PMC10405550.

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