Five Common Causes for Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are very common and, in some cases, very painful. The big toe is typically affected by this condition. An ingrown toenail is when the side of a toenail pierces into the tender skin of the toe, causing extreme discomfort, swelling, irritation, and occasionally, resulting in an infection.
Ingrown toenails can heal by using at-home remedies, but it is always better to consult your podiatrist. They can help you reduce your discomfort and prevent ingrown toenail issues if the pain is intense or growing.
Here are some common causes of ingrown toenails:
- Genetics: An ingrown toenail is often inherited from one or both parents. If you have a family history of ingrown toenails, then it is best to pay a visit to a podiatrist. They will give you the best care techniques to help prevention of ingrown toenails.
- Wrong Footwear: Insufficient space in your footwear, such as tight socks or tight toe-boxes in shoes, might exacerbate the growth of ingrown toenails. Young children and teenagers frequently get ingrown toenails because of this. Children outgrow their shoes, yet they may keep wearing them for some time before investing in better-fitting footwear. As a result, the nail pushes inside the skin and starts hurting.
- Toe Injury/Trauma: Ingrown toenails can occasionally happen as a result of injury to the toe or engaging in an activity such as running or ballet dancing that cause severe stress on your toes.
- Toenail Clipping: Cutting toenails too short is one of the most frequent causes of ingrown toenails. Your toes’ ability to avoid developing ingrown toenails is greatly influenced by how you cut your nails. Cutting your nails straight across, without removing too much of the nail, is the ideal technique to trim them.
- Poor Circulation: Diabetes patients are more likely to experience foot health issues. This is because having high levels of blood sugar might damage the nerves, lower your immunity and slow down the healing process.
Individuals who have poor arterial blood flow are more prone to ingrowing toenails. See your podiatrist if you experience frequent ingrown toenails and have some underlying medical condition. Ingrown toenails and other foot issues are more likely to occur if you have diabetes. Diabetes impacts the circulation of blood in your feet negatively, exposing you to the risk of developing infections and other foot conditions. At the New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group, there are almost 30 foot and ankle surgeons, podiatrists, and doctors. With more than 30 locations, from Newark, NJ, to Cape May, NJ, we value convenience and excellent service for our patients. We offer compassionate, cutting-edge care across our network, and we specialize in treating the following conditions: ankle and sports injuries, heel pain and plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care complications, children’s foot problems, skin conditions of the feet, and fungal nails. Our group is among the best foot and ankle providers in the country. To schedule an appointment, first find a podiatrist in your area.
