An ingrown toenail is a painful condition that can quickly become infected if not treated promptly. Knowing how to avoid them will spare you toe and foot pain as well as time spent off your feet recovering. Here are a few useful tips for preventing ingrown nails.

What Can You Do About Ingrown Toenails?

1. Cut Your Nails

Keep your nails at medium length, and stop them from curving into the toe. Letting them grow too long can cause them to press against your shoes and dig into your skin. If your nails are too short, pressure from your shoes can push the exposed skin back into your toenail. When trimming your nails, cut them even with the end of your toe and straight across. Cutting at an angle can cause the nail to curve, making it more likely to become ingrown.

2. Choose Appropriate Footwear

The shoes you wear affect your toenails. Your footwear should be well-fitting, not too tight or too loose. If they’re too small, they’ll keep pressure on your nails, and if they’re too large, they rub against your nails more when you walk. Protective shoes like steel-toed boots are a must if you work with heavy items or machinery. Nails that become damaged or stubbed have a greater chance of becoming ingrown.

3. Monitor & Treat Circulation Problems

Having poor circulation in your feet and toes, such as that associated with diabetes and heart disease, is linked to a higher risk of your nails becoming ingrown. Poor circulation causes reduced sensation in your extremities, particularly toes, so you may not notice the pressure being applied to your nails or the toe and foot pain of one becoming ingrown until it’s too late. Follow the instructions of a podiatrist to manage your foot health and reduce the likelihood of a nail becoming severely ingrown.

Do you already have an ingrown toenail that’s causing you toe and foot pain? The doctor at Aquilar Foot Care Clinic in Russellville, AR, will provide quick treatment to remedy your nail and relieve your foot pain. Dr. Danny Aquilar is a licensed podiatrist with decades of experience handling a variety of podiatry complaints, including diabetic complications, bunions, and sports injuries, through both conservative and surgical treatments. Learn more about their services online, and call (479) 890-3668 for a consultation today.