An ingrown toenail can be very inconvenient and painful. If not taken care of properly, it can get infected. The big toe is most often affected, but other toes can get ingrown nails too. It can be hereditary but is often caused by poor or improper foot care. When they become very painful, you’ll have to go to the doctor and have it removed. Some people are prone to getting ingrown toenails, so it would be best to give your toes the proper care to keep them from coming back.

Here are some tips to prevent ingrown toenails:

• Avoid cutting toenails too short and cut straight across, rather than rounding the edges
• Replace shoes that are too tight. Buy shoes that give your toenails room to breathe
• Avoid trauma to your toes – if your job puts you in a risk to drop heavy items on your toes, use protective footwear
• Let your toes breathe – if you play sports that put pressure on your toes, try to go barefoot or switch to flip flops afterward
• Proper foot hygiene – keep them clean and dry