If you're one of the unlucky people who are prone to getting ingrown toenails, then you know that it can be a real pain (literally). But did you know that there are a few things you can do to help prevent them from occurring in the first place? Check out our top three tips below.
Keep your nails trimmed.
Toenails that are too long often bump against the end of your shoe which causes the nail to dig into the skin and thus produces an ingrown toenail.
Warning: be careful not to cut your nails too short. This can cause them to grow into the skin.
So, how do you know the appropriate length of a toenail? The general rule of thumb is to leave approximately one millimeter of the “white stuff” on your toenail. This is the best way to ensure that your nails are not too long or too short.
Making sure you have the proper tools at home is crucial to this as well. I can’t tell you how many times I have accidentally clipped too much of my nail using regular nail nippers. The nail nippers provided in the Mod Pod Pedicure Kit will allow you to have more control when clipping your nails and prevent any accidental clippings. These nippers are also much stronger than regular clippers, making them ideal for those of you with thicker, hard to trim nails.
You can watch a video tutorial of how to trim your nails here.
Wear shoes that fit properly and don't cramp your toes.
This is especially important for all you ladies out there. Maybe you buy your shoes a size too small because you are embarrassed of having “big” feet or maybe you want to squeeze into those favorite pair of heels just one more time. Whatever the case may be, DO NOT wear shoes that are too small. The pressure put on your toes by shoving them into a shoe that is too small will make and ingrown toenail inevitable.
Many people often make the mistake of buying shoes that are too big with the intention of giving their toes plenty of room. Wearing shoes that are too big causes a different set of problems, including increasing your chances of falling.
If you are unsure about what size shoe you wear, check out this article for how to properly measure your feet.
Don’t Pick at Your Nails
Children are especially guilty of this. Picking at your nails can cause an ingrown toenail to occur.
NOBathroom Surgery
Sometimes ingrown toenails occur because of genetics and there isn’t much anyone can do about genetics. So, if you do get an ingrown toenail, please, please, please do not try and remove it yourself. With shows like Grey’s Anatomy or Dr. Pimple Popper, everyone wants to become a bathroom surgeon. However, trying to remove an ingrown toenail yourself often makes the problem worse and will increase your risk of infection.
Instead, soak your toe in Mod Pod Relax. Relax is a lemongrass infused Epsom salt soak that will decrease inflammation and pain. It is also antibacterial to provide protection against infection.
Leave the cutting up to us! If you have an ingrown toenail, please call the office at 859-264-1141 or schedule an appointment online. With proper care, you can avoid complications and speed up the healing process. The procedure to remove an ingrown is quick and easy. It only takes a couple of minutes to perform and most people feel immediate relief. You can check out on YouTube channel to see the procedure and ease any nerves.