Caring for Toenails

If you’re thinking of wearing open-toed shoes or going barefoot in the summer, you’re probably paying more attention to the shape of your toenails. But if you aren’t caring for them, correctly, you’re increasing your risk of developing a hangnail. At the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we can assist people who have conditions such as neuropathy that make it dangerous for them to cut their nails themselves. But for everyone else, we have some tips on good nail care.

Generally, it’s safer to cut your nails when they’re dry. This makes them less likely to bend and tear under the pressure of the clippers. They should be cut frequently enough to not grow beyond the edge of the toes, but they shouldn’t be cut extremely close to the nail plate. This will mean cutting them about every six weeks, for most people. Each nail should be cut straight across. Cutting them in a rounded shape increases the risk they’ll grow into the sides of the toe, especially if a person wears tight shoes or hose. Once the nail has been cut, the jagged edges can be filed down a little.

It’s common to have separate clippers for the fingernails and toenails, since toenails are thicker and keeping clippers separate limits the spread of bacteria. A person who has very thick toenails may need to wet them before cutting, in which case they should be patted dry afterward. The cuticle should not be cut; it may be pushed back, but cutting it could result in an infection.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Hangnails

Ingrown toenails are painful and have the potential to become infected. They’re a challenge for most people to treat on their own and can have serious implications for people with disorders such as diabetes. However, at the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associate of Lorain, we frequently help patients find a permanent solution to their discomfort.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin. It most often affects the big toe and is common in teenagers and people whose toes have incurred blunt-force trauma. If it is allowed to go untreated, it can become infected, resulting in the development of pus. If infection has not set in, people without complicating medical conditions may attempt at-home remedies such as soaking the foot in warm water three times a day and rubbing the overhanging skin. It is not advisable to repeatedly cut the nail, and objects such as paper used to lift the toenail out of the skin must be replaced daily.

If a hangnail persistently recurs, we can prescribe antibiotics and surgically remove parts of the nail or surrounding skin. Hangnails are one of the ailments people with peripheral nerve damage need to regularly examine themselves for. They can be avoided by cutting the nail straight across and wearing shoes with adequate room in the toe boxes. The feet should also be kept dry as much as possible.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.