Ingrown toenails are very common, and they can be extremely painful, but most people ignore them because they look like regular nails and don’t stand out too much. However, if you develop an ingrown toenail, you should see a doctor immediately and treat the problem before further issues such as infection.
An ingrown toenail is when the edge of your nail grows into the flesh of your toe, much like a splinter. Ingrown toenails can be caused by cutting or filing nails too short, but they are more likely to be due to the shape of your foot, which means that you could have them even if you take great care to look after your nails.
An ingrown toenail can become infected, particularly if it becomes red and large around the edges. It’s not easy to fix an ingrown toenail, but a Midtown East ingrown toenail specialist can help you out. But why do you develop ingrown toenails? We look at some of the causes in this article.
Injury to the Toenail
An injury to the edge of your toe could lead to an ingrown toenail. This kind of injury is often caused by wearing too-tight shoes, which means they rub against the edge of your toes every time you take a step. Shoes with pointed or high heels may also cause one side of the front end of your foot to bulge out, which can lead to ingrown toenails as well as corns and calluses.
Heredity
Some people are more prone to getting ingrown toenails than others, which means it could be down to the shape of their toes or perhaps the way they walk. If your father had ingrown toenails, you are more likely to develop them yourself. People with foot problems caused by deformities, past injuries, or arthritis are more likely to develop ingrown toenails.
Cutting Your Nails Too Short
Cutting your nails too short can make them curve around and grow back into the flesh instead of away from it. The most commonplace for this to happen is on or around your big toe.
Nails shaped like this will be more likely to grow into the skin because they tend to curl around any object, such as a sock, that they may come into contact with. This means that you should never cut your nails too short and file them roundly instead of clipping straight across the top.
Poor Circulation
Poor circulation means that not as much blood flows around your body, but it can cause health problems elsewhere. If your toes aren’t getting enough blood because of poor circulation, they will be more likely to die.
If there is a lack of oxygen in the tissues of your toe, then you are also opening yourself up to infection. Infection is, of course, not something you want to deal with on top of an ingrown toenail.
In summary, ingrown toenails are a common condition where the edge of your nail grows into the flesh of your toe, much like a splinter. You can develop ingrown toenails due to infection or genetic factors. Poor circulation and cutting your toenails too short are also common causes of ingrown toenails.
