• When preparing for a long hike, paying extra attention to your toenails is essential to prevent painful ingrown nails. Regular trimming is vital. Clip nails straight across to avoid curvature that pushes skin. Keeping nails short reduces friction inside boots and prevents nail edges from embedding into surrounding tissue. Moisturize cuticles daily and use a gentle file to smooth rough edges, ensuring proper alignment and comfort. After trimming, allow nails to dry thoroughly and inspect them for signs of irritation. Proper care and proactive maintenance enable you to enjoy hiking adventures free from discomfort and setbacks, ensuring your feet remain healthy and resilient along every challenging trail. For persistent issues, unusual nail shapes, or ingrown toenails, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist to receive expert advice tailored to your needs.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Richard Silverstein of Union Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Havre de Grace, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.