Is there a way for me to prevent ingrown toenails?
Do you find yourself dealing with ingrown toenails rather frequently? If so, you may be wondering what’s going on. Could you be doing something that could be putting you at risk for ingrown toenails? From the office of our Reston, Ashburn, Fairfax, McLean, VA, podiatrists, here are some ways to prevent ingrown toenails from happening in the first place.
Know-How to Trim Your Nails
You should be trimming your toenails regularly; however, trimming your toenails improperly could leave you dealing with painful ingrown toenails, so it’s important that you know just how to do it. Here are three big tips to keep in mind the next time you grab your clippers,
- Trim nails straight across: It’s important that you always trim your nails straight across and never at an angle. Trimming the edges of the nails at a curve could increase the likelihood of an ingrown toenail.
- Don’t trim too short: While you may wish to trim your nails as short as possible so you don’t have to trim them again so soon, you might want to rethink this strategy. After all, trimming your nails too short can also lead to ingrown toenails. It’s best to play it safe and keep the tips of your toenails level with the toes.
- See a podiatrist: If you have diabetes or nerve damage in your feet, you may want to turn to your Fairfax, VA, podiatrist to trim your toenails regularly. We can prevent ingrown toenails and other problems from occurring just by performing regular foot exams. If you are having trouble trimming your own nails, we can easily do that for you.
Wear the Appropriate Footwear
It’s important that you wear shoes that don’t bunch up and crowd your feet, especially if you are prone to ingrown toenails. Look for shoes that have a wide toe box that allows you to freely wiggle and move your toenails around without restriction.
If you have shoes that put pressure on the nails, it’s a good idea to toss those shoes out and get new ones. Shoes with high heels and pointed toes are also no-no’s for people prone to ingrown toenails.
Family Foot and Ankle Center provides everything from ingrown toenail treatment to diabetic foot care to those living in Fairfax, Ashburn, McLean and Reston, VA. If you are dealing with a painful or infected ingrown toenail, give us a call today. For Ashburn, call (703) 723-9267. For Fairfax, call (703) 273-9818. For McLean, call (703) 556-8637. For Reston, call (703) 723-2719. You can also visit our website at https://www.familyfootandankle.com.