Why have you got yet another ingrown toenail?
If you find that you are having recurring problems with ingrown toenails, it might be time to take a step back and review what you can do differently to lower your risk of ingrown nails.
Trim your nails regularly
One of the best ways to prevent ingrown nails is to trim your toenails regularly. Trim them straight across, rather than using a curve that follows the nail so that the nail is an even length. Keep the white of the nail visible, but less than 5mm. Overly long nails can curve back into the feet and shorter nails can be pressed into the foot by a tight shoe. If you struggle to cut your own nails because of disability, you can set up a regularly appointment with a podiatrist to get them trimmed.
Wear comfortable shoes
if you wear shoes that are too tight, the pressure can lead to ingrown toenails. If you find that you are prone to getting ingrown toenails after stubbing your toe, then you should start wearing shoes with a hard and protective toe cap.
Ingrown nails are also more common if you have damp feet, so if you are a heavy sweater it can make sense to wear socks that are designed to wick away sweat. Make sure to fully dry your feet if you are putting on socks and shoes after a bath or shower.
See a podiatrist
If you are having recurring issues with ingrown toenails it can make sense to see a podiatrist for some additional support and advice. Podiatrists are able to help you with the current ingrown toe nail, using techniques known as nail avulsion where the irritating nail is trimmed away and treated while the flesh is given time to recover. Certain sections of the population are more vulnerable to ingrown toenails, including people with extremely curved nails (when viewed from the tip of the toe), and people with other conditions such as diabetes and poor circulation in the extremities. Seeing a podiatrist can help to find the root cause of your recurring ingrown toenails and stop the problem from coming back.
If you find that you have recurring issues with ingrown nails, there are several things you can do at home to prevent them including changing the way you cut your toenails and the shoes you wear. It can also make sense to review the issue with a podiatrist to ensure there are no other underlying causes, such as diabetes.