Dealing with ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful. You might find that it’s difficult to wear certain shoes, it’s hard to walk without pressure or pain, and you might have to miss out on certain activities. Ingrown toenails can also become infected, which leads to further complications. If you understand what causes ingrown toenails, you can prevent them from occurring. Our podiatrists at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland in Camp Springs/Clinton, Kensington, Olney, Laurel, Maple Lawn, and Silver Spring, MD, can explain what causes ingrown toenails and how you can prevent them.
Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails
The most common cause of ingrown toenails is cutting your toenails too short. When they are too short, they can curl into the sides of the toe and start growing into the skin. This can cause the toe to become inflamed and put you at risk for infection. It’s important that you’re sure to cut the toenail straight across and that you don’t cut it too short. If you have diabetes, you may want to talk to our podiatrist about getting your nails cut to prevent ingrown toenails.
Ingrown toenails can also be caused by issues like:
- Stubbing your toe and injuring the nail
- Wearing shoes that crowd the toes
- Having curved nails
- Nail infections
It’s important that you are taking good care of your feet and that you’re taking the necessary steps to prevent ingrown toenails from happening. If you do have an ingrown toenail, talk to your podiatrist about getting treatment to prevent any infections from happening.
Contact Our Podiatrist Today
Make sure you know how to prevent an ingrown toenail. Contact our podiatrists at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland in Camp Springs/Clinton, Kensington, Olney, Laurel, Maple Lawn, and Silver Spring, MD, to learn more about ingrown toenails. Call for more information today at (301) 924-5044 to reach the Olney, MD, office, (301) 439-0300 for Silver Spring, MD, (301) 868-7670 for Camp Springs, MD, (301) 942-8110 for Kensington, MD, and (301) 317-6800 for Laurel and Fulton, MD.