An ingrown toenail is a very painful condition that can cause swelling and redness where the nail is pushing into your tender skin, making it extremely uncomfortable to wear shoes. While ingrown toenails are a common condition treated by foot doctors, many instances can be prevented with some proactive steps.
3 easy tips for preventing ingrown toenails include the following:
1) Cut your toenails carefully—Be careful when cutting your toenails that you don’t cut them too short since this can cause the edge of the nail to cut into the tender skin on the edge of your toes. Keeping your toenails a little long and with only a slight curve can prevent ingrown toenails from starting.
2) Avoid tight-fitting shoes—Shoes like high heels that push your toes together should be avoided or worn rarely. Shoes that have a wide toe box will give your toes room to move and help prevent ingrown toenails.
3) Check your feet regularly—Ingrown toenails are easier to treat when they are noticed early, so be sure to check your feet at least once a week for any skin, nail, or other problems. Patients who have diabetes should check their feet every day since infections can go unnoticed and rapidly spread.
If you are experiencing a painful ingrown toenail see your foot doctor for the proper treatment and to help prevent bacterial and fungal toenail infections. At CT Family Foot Care and Surgery, Lori K. Paragas, DPM treats many feet and ankle conditions including diabetic foot problems, bunions, nail fungus, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis. At our Advanced Laser Pain Relief Center, Dr. Martin C. Donnelly, D.C. treats a wide variety of conditions including back & neck pain, post-operative pain, hip, leg and knee pain and shoulder, arm and hand pain. CT Family Foot Care and Surgery and the Advanced Laser Pain Relief Center provide specialized, high-quality service for patients in the Hamden, CT area. For any problems you may be experiencing with your feet and ankles contact us at (203) 288-0129 and to reach the laser center call (203) 507-2290.