Ingrown toenails can be painful and it’s important to understand what causes them so that you can avoid them from occurring. Proper footcare can help prevent ingrown toenails and it’s important to talk to your podiatrist to find out what you should be doing to stop them from happening. Dr. Timothy Mason, Dr. Jason Hancock, and Dr. Travis Johnson at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Orlando in Orlando, Lake Mary, and Oviedo, FL, can explain what causes ingrown nails and how you can prevent them.
Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are often caused by trimming your nails too short, especially on the sides of the big toe. When the nail is trimmed too short, it can start growing into the side of the toe, which causes an ingrown toenail. Skin can start growing over the nail and it can cause pain, inflammation, and redness which can all lead to an infection.
Ingrown toenails can also be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight or too short, injuries, fungal infections, or poor foot structure. Constant ingrown nails can also be hereditary. If you’re dealing with an ingrown nail, your podiatrist can help minimize your pain and reduce inflammation.
You can prevent ingrown toenails from happening by trimming your nails straight across and avoiding any rounded corners. You should also wear shoes and socks that fit properly and aren’t too tight and keep your feet clean and dry at all times.
Contact Your Podiatrist Today
Find out what could be causing your ingrown toenails and how you can stop them from happening. Contact Dr. Mason, Dr. Hancock, and Dr. Johnson at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Orlando in Orlando, Lake Mary, and Oviedo, FL, to learn more about ingrown nails. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment at (407) 365-9511 today.