Do’s and Don’ts for Dealing With Ingrown Toenails

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At Texas Foot Specialists one of the most painful conditions patients come to us with is an ingrown toenail. In fact, these can be so painful that people are afraid to get them treated. Although they always feel much better after their visit to our Sugar Land 281-242-4448, Pasadena 281-991-0600, or Houston 713-664-6677 office, most everyone would certainly rather avoid an ingrown toenail in the first place. Below are some do’s and don’ts for preventing and treating ingrown toenails.

Do: take care to trim nails properly. This is the biggest cause of toenails becoming ingrown. The correct way to trim:

  • Cut nails straight across with nail clippers.

  • Nails shouldn’t get longer than the tip of the toe, but they also should not be cut so short that the skin starts to fold over the nails.

  • File straight across with no rounded or curved edges.

Don’t: wear shoes that press toes up against one another. It’s estimated that as many as 9 out of 10 people are wearing shoes that are too tight. Foot size can increase over time. Get your feet measured professionally and choose styles that don’t have narrow, pointy fronts—all toes should have plenty of wiggle room!

Do: talk to our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum if ingrown toenails seem to be chronic or a frequent occurrence for you. In some cases, the tendency for ingrown nails can be inherited and the foot doctor will be able to tell you options for eliminating this problem.

Do: wash your feet daily and look them over for any signs of nails becoming ingrown.

Don’t: try to lift an ingrown nail out of the skin with a sharp implement. Instead, try soaking the affected foot in warm, salted water and then rub gently to try to get the nail free. You may also try slipping a piece of waxed dental floss between the nail and the skin.

Do: contact us immediately if the toe starts to feel hot and becomes red and swollen. It’s easy for ingrown nails to become infected and lead to more serious issues.