3 Steps To Preventing Ingrown Toenails
Unlike a lot of health problems in life, an ingrown toenail is sure to let you know of its existence. While ingrown toenails can be painful, to be sure, they can carry with them much more dire consequences like infection if left untreated. Ingrown toenails can disrupt your day-to-day lifestyle, which makes preventing before they happen the wisest choice. Here are some things you can do to minimize your risk for ingrown toenails...
Cut Your Nails Correctly
A lot of ingrown toenails are caused by improper clipping. While clipping your nails as short as possible might buy you some extra time between clippings it also can put you at risk. This is because nails are usually cut in an oval shape when trimmed close, which causes the nail to grow outward, embedding itself into the flesh of your toe. Instead, only cut in a straight line, which will promote uniform growth along your toe instead of having the edges grow longer than the center.
Wear Proper Shoes
Constant pressure on your feet is also another leading cause of developing ingrown toenails. Invest in a pair of shoes that aren't a tight fit. Generally, if you're able to wiggle your toes around freely, then the shoe is fitted properly. However, if you frequently find yourself wrestling with ingrown toenails then you might simply have a genetic predisposition, in which case your best bet is to try to wear wide-toed or open-toed shows whenever possible. Whatever the case may be, proper footwear can go a long way in keeping you on your feet.
Rest Your Feet
Foot trauma is another leading factor that can start you on the road toward an ingrown toenail. While you might think this means simply to watch out for accidents it goes much deeper than that. If you perform any sort of activity that requires you to run for prolonged periods of time, you're exposing your feet to risk. This is doubly true if you enjoy playing sports where you have to kick something. This doesn't mean you have to stop altogether, of course, but instead, after you're done with whatever it is you are doing you should try to pop off your shoes and rest. This will allow your feet to breathe as well as remove any sort of pressure, which goes a long way in keeping your toes healthy.
Hopefully, by following these three tips, you can see less ingrown toenails in your future.
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