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.

 

Discolored Toenails

Nobody wants their toenails to look discolored, especially not during the summer months, when other people can see. But discolored toenails can indicate a bigger problem than just a bruise. Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain offers solutions for a wide variety of topical and internal problems, so if you have discolored toenails, we can help you figure out why and what to do.

The most common reason for discolored toenails is infection. Fungus commonly makes toenails thick and yellow-brown in color. They may be misshapen and hard to cut. In people with compromised immune systems, fungus can appear white. Bacteria may cause toenails to look green or bluish green.  Like infections of the skin, these ailments are likelier to happen if the feet are not kept dry and can become dangerous if they are able to enter the interior of the body through a lesion.

Black and brown toenails can be indicative of skin cancer. While they are likelier to be caused by blood pooling beneath the nail after an injury, patients should definitely seek a consultation with us if they don’t remember an injury that could cause discoloration. An injury may also cause white streaks on a nail, and while they can grow out, the patient might take toenail injuries as a sign they need to change shoes.

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.