What Causes Ingrown Toenails?

Proper foot care is important for keeping both skin and nails as clean and healthy as possible. Learning the right technique and schedule for clipping your toenails is essential for keeping them at the right length for optimal health and movement. Without this diligent care and trips to a foot specialist, you may end up suffering from ingrown toenails.

As one of the most common toenail problems, ingrown toenails can affect people of all ages. This condition occurs when either the sides or corners of the toenail stop growing straight and start digging into the skin surrounding the nail. Common causes of this problem include wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes, experiencing repetitive trauma to the foot, or trimming toenails to be too short with rounded corners. Ingrown toenails typically cause swelling, redness, and irritation. More severe cases make it difficult to wear certain shoes or even walk without pain.

If you think you have an ingrown toenail, it is important to schedule an appointment with a Houston podiatrist as soon as possible. A foot specialist can inspect the toe and choose the best treatment plan.