It can be painful to have ingrown toenails and this can prevent you from going about your daily activities comfortably. However, there are certain steps you can take to prevent ingrown toenails and other foot ailments.

Ingrown toenails occur

When the edge of the toenail grows into the skin surrounding it without growing over it. This usually affects the big toe and when you have this condition, you will experience redness, swelling and pain in this area. There can even be an infection if the ingrown toenail is not treated. You can visit Podiatry Malvern if you’re experiencing pain and discomfort. And the podiatrist will also help give some advice about how to prevent this condition. It is important to trim the toenails properly as this is one of the main reasons for ingrown toenails. You need to use clean toenail clippers that are sharp. Another habit you may be doing is rounding the corners of the nail which will cause the nail to dig into the skin. To prevent this, you need to trim the nails straight across.

When you are trimming nails,

You need to keep a small gap between the edge of the nail and your skin. And leave the nails a little longer than the tips of your toes instead of cutting them too short. You should also maintain proper foot hygiene and to do this, you need to keep your feet clean and dry. This will prevent fungal infections from forming. A fungal infection can further complicate ingrown toenail issues. To keep your feet clean, you have to wash them with soap and water and make sure to keep the area around the toenails clean. You should also wash and clean the area between toes. Once you have properly washed the feet, they need to be dried. Areas with moisture can create a favourable place for fungal growth.

If you are engaged in physical activities such as sports and exercise,

It is good to wear moisture wicking socks so that your feet will be dry in the duration. You should also focus on what you are wearing. Having improper footwear can negatively impact the health of your feet. If your shoes are too tight it will compress your toes and this can increase the risk of ingrown nails. To prevent this, you need to select a shoe that has a wide toe box. This should be your first choice always especially if you have wider feet. High heels or shoes that have pointed toes can put a lot of pressure on your toenails and if you wear them for a long time, this can significantly affect the health of your feet. You can still wear high heels but it is recommended to do so for shorter periods of time. You need to make sure there is sufficient space for your toes to move around inside the shoes without being uncomfortable. There are also ways to protect your feet from trauma. For example, you need to wear protective footwear during sports.

 

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