Ingrown toenails can be really painful and annoying, making it impossible to do even simple things like walking or wearing certain types of shoes. If left untreated, ingrown toenails can become even more infected and generate abscesses.

This is not an uncommon condition: ingrown toenails are very common, and can be caused by a number of factors such as excessive sweating, inappropriate footwear, a bacterial infection or nails cut too short. Here’s how to treat ingrown toenails.

Hot water. Soaking your feet in a basin filled with warm water 3 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes helps relieve pain and swelling. After soaking your feet and drying them thoroughly, use a cotton swab or dental floss to pull the ingrown toenail away from the skin.

Epsom salt. Soak your feet in a solution of water and Epsom salt to treat the infection and relieve pain.

Vicks VapoRub. Apply some of this cream directly to the infected nail – it helps relieve pain and speed up the care process.

Apple cider vinegar. Apply apple cider vinegar with the help of a cotton ball to reduce the infection and treat the ingrown toenail.

To prevent this unpleasant condition, it is suggested to trim the nails regularly, taking care to remove the edges that seem sharp. Do not cut them too short, it is precisely the pressure they apply to the skin that causes ingrown toenails.