By Center for Podiatric Medicine
September 28, 2016
Category: Foot Health
Tags: toenails ingrown toenails
Cutting your toenails may seem like a rather simple task, but there is more than meets the eye. Learn more from your River North podiatrist.
Trimming your toenails may seem as commonplace as brushing your teeth but you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t actually know the proper etiquette when it comes to caring for their toenails. Just like any other area of the foot, toenails can become prone to infections and other issues if not handled correctly. If you are unsure how to care for your toenails our River North, IL podiatrists are here to help.
Before you start grabbing for your nail clippers, it’s good to know why you need to trim your nails the right way. After all, with good skills you can prevent infections or ingrown toenails from happening. While an ingrown toenail may not seem like a big deal, if you’ve ever experienced one you know how painful they can be. Plus, they can lead to more serious infections.
Sure, this doesn’t always mean that you need to see a podiatry professional to get your nails trimmed—unless you have diabetes or nerve damage in your feet—but you do still need to take care of your feet so that they can continue to take care of you.
Here are some basics on how to trim your toenails the right way:
Never cut at a curve: When you cut your toenails make sure that they are trimmed straight across and never at a curve, which can lead to ingrown toenails. You also don’t need to dig down along the sides of the toenails to trim them.
Disinfect your tools: Make sure that the clippers you use are always cleaned before and after with rubbing alcohol to kill any bacteria that might be on it.
Don’t cut nails too short: Ingrown toenails are also more likely to occur if you trim your nails too short. While you don’t need to keep your nails long, per se, a good rule of thumb is to trim nails to about the same level as the tip of your toes.
Don’t cut wet nails: It might seem easier to trim your nails after getting out of the shower but wet nails are more susceptible to tearing or breaking. Trim your nails when they are dry so cutting goes a bit smoother.
Don’t remove cuticles: Cuticles can be unsightly but it doesn’t mean you should cut them. You can easily purchase a cuticle stick from a local beauty store, which can push the cuticles back. Cutting them may only lead to infection.
Whether you have questions about foot care or you are dealing with persistent foot pain, the Center for Podiatric Medicine in River North, Chicago, IL is here to provide you with the quality foot care you require.
