Do you know to prevent ingrown toenails? Read on for tips from Dr. Bowman!

An ingrown toenail happens when the sides of the toenail grow directly into the surrounding skin of the nail. This condition can be extremely painful and can cause severe inflammation, swelling and tenderness.

Below are some tips to help eliminate ingrown toenails from occurring in the first place. Please follow Dr. Bowman’s helpful tips to keep your feet healthy and reduce your risk of an ingrown toenail.

• Cut toenails properly. You need to trim your toenails on a weekly basis. It’s important to keep your nail from growing over the end of your toe. Trimming toenails straight across is the best way to cut.  You want avoid curving at the ends of the nail, which can direct your toenail to grow into your skin.

• Find your correct fit. Ill-fitting shoes can cause pressure on your feet, especially your toes. Your shoes need to allow your toes room to move and breath comfortably. Your toes should come close to the end, but not actually touch the end of your shoe. Look for shoes with wider toe boxes that provide a nice amount of room for your toes.

• Injuries. Something as simple as someone stepping on your toe can cause and ingrown nail, be aware of your surroundings.

• Avoid high heels. This uncomfortable trend continues to be a common cause of many foot ailments, including ingrown toenails. High heels often have small and pointy toe boxes, which squeeze your toes together. Heels also angle your feet so that your body pushes down upon your toes in overwhelming amounts of pressure.

• Wash your feet regularly. You should scrub your feet and toes at least once a day. Wash with soap and luke warm water.  Also, dry your feet completely, especially between your toes.

• Avoid “Bathroom Surgery”.  Many people try to cut out an ingrown nail themselves.  This will actually make the problem worse by leaving a portion of the nail in the skin that cannot be seen.  This part is called a spicule and will cause more pain and infections.

Ingrown toenails are not only painful, but if you leave them without treatment then it may result in fungal or bacterial infections. Also, the skin on your toes can begin to grow over your toenail. In severe cases, where ingrown toenails lack treatment in a timely manner, they can result in serious infections and the ingrown portion of your nail may need to be surgically removed which is a simple procedure. If you experience an ingrown toenail, please contact our office at (713) 467-8886 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Bowman. See Dr. Bowman’s website for more information at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

References:

http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/library/1878/IngrownToenails.html
http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/library/1877/IngrownNails.html

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