Preventing Ingrown Toenails: Nail And Foot Care Tips
Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful, so much so that even walking can be a difficult task. Ingrown toenails can be caused from a number of things and could end up with infection and possibly surgery. Ingrown toenails can be prevented. See below for tips on how to prevent this from happening to you.
Wear The Right Footwear
Footwear is important in preventing ingrown toenails. Your shoes should fit your foot properly and shouldn't be too tight. Wear wide width shoes to help prevent your toes from getting smashed together, which can cause ingrown toenails and bunions. Shoes should not only fit properly, they should also not be too high of a heel so that your feet aren't being pressed forward, smashing them into the toe of the shoe. This means keeping heels under 2 inches and wearing heels that provide enough stability (no stilettos).
Cut Nails Properly
Your nails should be cut straight across, not at an angle. Cutting at an angle will cause the nail to grow out and into the skin. Don't dig into the side of your toe in an effort to clip the ingrown nail, you'll only end up with a sore toe and a possible infection. Always use clean nail clippers and clip them straight across. If you have an issue with your nails (such as ingrown toenails or even thick nails), you should have your nails clipped by a podiatrist rather than trying to clip them yourself.
Other Tips:
- Keep your feet dry by wearing breathable socks that help wick sweat away. If your feet sweat a lot, be sure to take off socks at night when sleeping to keep them dry. Also use an anti-fungal spray inside shoes to prevent athletes foot.
- Soak your feet in epsom salts to help soften your feet and to help clear up any infection. Epsom salts can also soothe tired feet.
- Toss your old gym shoes and invest in new ones that provide more support. Old gym shoes could also be harboring quite a bit of bacteria from sweating. Change up your gym shoes at least once per year.
Visit a podiatrist, like Greenberg Paul , if you are experiencing any issues with ingrown toenails. Don't try to fix the problem yourself. Clipping the ingrown nail will cause pain and infection and could worsen the problem, not make it better. Leave it to a professional to help you with your toenails.
