Ingrown toenails are a common injury and cause inflammation, soreness, and redness on your toe. Some people are predisposed to ingrown toenails while others may get ingrown toenails from repeated trauma or how they cut their nails.
Here are 5 ways to prevent ingrown toenails:
1. Wear proper fitting shoes
Ill-fitting shoes are known to cause a variety of issues on your foot like hammertoes, heel pain, bunions, and blisters to name a few, so it is no surprise they can cause ingrown toenails, too. Shoes that are too tight will cause your toes to bunch up and compress causing pain and discomfort. Be sure to wear shoes that have enough space for your toes at the front of the shoe (often called the toe box) to prevent an injury. As you get older, your feet can expand and your shoe size can change, too. Measure your feet every few years to make sure you are wearing the right size of shoe.
2. Wear protective footwear
If you are active in sports that require a lot of kicking or running, your toes are at risk of repeated trauma. Wearing the proper cleats and socks is essential to preventing injury. Similarly, if you work in a job that requires steel-toe boots, wear them. Contrary to popular belief, steel-toe boots do not make you anymore at risk for ingrown toenails and will protect your toes.
3. Trim your nails!
Trimming your nails is a vital step in preventing ingrown toenails. Be sure to cut the nail straight across instead of following the curved profile of your toe. Trimming your nails too short will expose the nail bed and put you at risk for ingrown and other injuries. Cutting a straight edge at a moderate length will help prevent the nail from digging into your toe and protect the nail bed.
4. Stay healthy!
Certain conditions, like diabetes, put you at risk for ingrown toenails and other injuries. Eating right, staying active, and getting enough sleep will help you stay healthy. If you do have diabetes, make sure to regularly check your feet for signs of an ingrown.
5. Don’t try to treat it yourself!
For very mild cases you can soak your foot in warm water and Epsom salt to help relieve the ingrown, but the best thing to do is to see your podiatrist. At the office, we can safely remove the small part of the nail digging into your toe and effectively prevent an ingrown from ever happening again. Too often have we seen at-home procedures that do not turn out well. Please see a podiatrist if you have a painful or infected ingrown nail.
At Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center we are experts at treating and preventing ingrown toenails. If you or someone you know has a painful ingrown, call us or visit our website to make an appointment today!
