How to prevent ingrown toenails
You prevent ingrown toenails by cutting your nails straight across, avoiding digging down the sides, and wearing shoes that do not press on your toes. Keeping thickened nails buffed down helps reduce pressure on the surrounding skin. Fiona at The Fresh Foot Centre can trim nails safely and treat any nail that is already ingrown.
Cut your nails straight across
The way you cut your toenails matters. Cut straight across and avoid digging down the sides, because a spike left at the nail edge can pierce the skin as the nail grows. Gently round off the corners with a file so no sharp edges remain. Cut your nails to a comfortable length, and use clean, proper nail clippers rather than picking or tearing them. Fiona can trim your nails for you at either clinic if reaching your feet is difficult.
Wear shoes that fit
Shoes play a large part in ingrown toenail prevention. Choose shoes that do not rub on the side of your toe or squish your toes together, because pressure on the skin beside the nail can push it inward. A shoe with enough room in the toe box suits most feet. Toe protectors and spreaders can be used with shoes that place pressure on the nail edge, so the area is offloaded while you wear them. See our guide on choosing shoes for more detail.
Keep feet clean and dry
Clean, dry feet are less likely to develop the irritation and infection that make an ingrown toenail worse. Wash your feet daily and dry them thoroughly, including between the toes. Check your feet regularly for redness, swelling or tenderness around the nail. Thickened nails should be buffed down, because this reduces pressure on the surrounding skin and helps prevent problems that thickened nails can cause. Fiona offers nail care for thick or damaged nails as part of general podiatry.
When an ingrown toenail keeps coming back
Recurring ingrown toenails usually have a cause that self-care alone cannot fix, such as the nail shape or ongoing pressure. Fiona assesses the nail and offers care ranging from spike removal to Brace N Fix bracing, and surgery is available from $450 for one toe including the post-operative follow-up, with each extra toe $50.
Questions
How do you cut toenails to prevent ingrown toenails?
Cut straight across and avoid digging down the sides, then gently round the corners with a file so no spike remains. A spike at the nail edge is what most often pierces the skin. Fiona can show you the technique or trim the nails for you.
What shoes stop ingrown toenails?
Shoes with enough room in the toe box help, as they stop the shoe pressing the skin against the nail. Avoid shoes that rub the side of your toe or squish your toes together. Toe protectors can offload the nail edge when a narrower shoe is worn.
Should you cut the corners out of an ingrown toenail?
Cutting the corners out yourself often leaves a small spike behind, which can make the problem worse as the nail grows. The skin beside the nail may become inflamed or infected. Fiona can remove the spike safely and advise on care, or discuss surgery if the nail keeps ingrowing.