There are many ways to help decrease the risk of getting an ingrown toenail.
However, it is important to note that sometimes ingrown toenails are unavoidable.
Self-managed:
Steps to take to decrease the risk of an ingrown toenail at home
- Do not pick at your toenails or the skin around the nail
- Try not to peel your toenails when they are too long, this can cause the nails to become accidentally too short and can cause some mild trauma on the side of the skin near your nail
- When cutting your nails, always cut straight across and never curved.
- Let your nails grow out and only cut the white tip of the nail.
- Limit or even stay away from nail salons – Nail salons can increase the risk of ingrown toenails as they sometimes cut away skin and nail that should not be cut away.
Podiatrist-managed:
Steps to take to decrease the risk of an ingrown toenail at the podiatrist
- Regular nail cutting appointments every 8-10 weeks to ensure they are being cut correctly
- Management of the skin around the nail by using multiple different techniques in-clinic
- Offloading of the nail from the skin by using multiple different techniques in-clinic
- Debridement of dead skin in and around the skin folds that connects with the nail
- Use of a drill to help decrease the thickness of your nails which may be causing some irritation
If you have any questions on how we can help with your ingrown toenail then be in touch!
By Elyssa Parodi – Podiatrist at Melbourne Podiatry Clinic