Even the thought of ingrown toenails can be very scary. These nails are painful, hard to remove, and can easily become infected. If you’re at a high risk of ingrown toenails, you should be sure to take necessary precautions to avoid them. While anybody can develop an ingrown toenail, it is helpful to personally assess risk for them. 

Some risk factors for ingrown toenails are genetic. If you’ve noticed that your toenails tend to grow curved, this can be problematic. Curved nails are at a higher risk for ingrown toenails; this is the same reason it is recommended to trim your toenails in a straight line. If you or your family has a history of recurring ingrown toenails, this may mean your toe or nails may tend to be shaped in a way that increases risk. 

Because of the effect of diabetes on circulation, diabetic patients can also be at a higher risk for ingrowns. Additionally, diabetic ingrown toenail patients are at a higher risk of it becoming infected. 

Athletes are also at an increased risk for ingrown toenails. This is because athletic activity causes pressure from the shoe onto the side of the toe. This repeated pressure can cause trauma to the toes and cause an ingrown toenail. If you are an athlete wanting to assess risk of ingrown toenails, pay attention to how often your shoe presses up against your toes. If you frequently run or jump, you can assess risk as higher than if you don’t. 

After you assess risk of developing an ingrown toenail, you should learn how to avoid them. Apply these techniques to avoid the pain of an ingrown. If you have developed an ingrown toenail, you should be seen by a licensed podiatrist to discuss treatment options. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.