Conservative measures may help relieve symptoms, although there is no evidence they can correct the underlying deformity. You can do this multiple times a day, or as needed while your toenail is growing out. [4] X Expert Source Mark Co, DPM

Turner R & Testa M. Measuring the impact of onychomycosis on patient quality of life. Qual Life Res 2000;9(1):39–53. PMID: 10981205 For itchy, inflamed skin with the presence of vesicles, the use of potassium permanganate foot baths is a useful adjunct to treatment. Onychomycosis is more common in men than women and there is a correlation between increasing age and infection [3] Early on, the skin around the ingrown nail may become reddened and feels slightly tender. If it progresses and becomes infected, it may become more swollen, red and painful. Depending on the extent of your ingrown toenail, this might be a little painful. Try taking a pain reliever to ease your discomfort.If you don't have Epsom salts, you can use plain salt. Salt water will help reduce the growth of bacteria in the area. Do not cut the nail but allow it to grow forward until it is clear of the end of the toe. Then cut straight across the nail, and not rounded off at the end. An ingrown nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter the body through a break in the skin. These bacteria or fungi can multiply, causing an infection.

Raised skin growth with a hard, uneven surface. Cauliflower-like in appearance. Some may appear to lie flat on the skin —these plane warts tend to be less painful; Wear open-toe sandals or loose shoes. Give your feet some extra room by choosing to wear open-toe shoes, sandals or other loose-fitting shoes. [5] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source Kline A. Onychocryptosis: a simple classification system. Foot & Ankle 2008;1(5):6. doi: 10.3827/faoj.2008.0105.0006 If you notice red streaks coming from the toe, you need to see a doctor immediately. This is a sign of a major infection.Soaking your foot in warm water three or four times a day for a few days, to help soften the skin around the toe For the first day or two after surgery, you should rest your foot and limit activity. Keep it elevated when you’re sitting.

Trim your toenails properly. Many ingrown toenails are caused by improperly trimmed toenails. Cut your toenails straight across. Do not round the corners. Akram S & Zaman H. Warts and verrucas: assessment and treatment. The Pharmaceutical Journal 2015;294:7867. doi: 10.1211/PJ.2015.20068680 Two-thirds of patients report that their daily life was affected because of this pain, indicating the high impact that foot conditions have on patients [3] Office for National Statistics. Overview of the UK population: March 2017. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/overviewoftheukpopulation/mar2017 (accessed August 2017)Pharmacists and pharmacy teams should advise patients to read the relevant instructions and use a product for only a week or two. However, some patients may require continuous application for 2–3 months, sometimes longer. In the authors’ experience, compliance can be a problem with topical self-treatment, so appropriate counselling may be required. Repeat the process daily. Use this process to help heal an ingrown toenail. As the toe heals, the pain from the ingrown toenail will subside, and the swelling will go down. Trim toenails regularly (at least every two weeks). Cut them straight across, not on a curve, and file down sharp edges using an emery board; For nails that repeatedly grow in, the option to remove part of all of the nail (partial nail avulsion/total nail avulsion) under a local anaesthetic is recommended.