In the summer, people prefer wearing sandals and flip flops. Cooler weather can drive people to wear boots or other closed toe footwear rather than sandals and flip flops. Also, there are people who need to wear boots or closed shoes for work, like those in the military or construction. Closed footwear is great for protecting your toes, but sometimes it can cause some problems, like ingrown toenails. Fortunately, there are some helpful tips to stop your nails from growing into the skin even while wearing closed shoes.

Ingrown toenails are when the toenail curves and grows into your skin instead of straight forward. It can be caused by an injury, your natural nail shape, an infection, a poorly-trimmed nail, or tight shoes. These factors can all influence the way the hard keratin grows. Shoes that are worn too tight are a definite concern for your nails. Here are some simple preventative measures that can make a significant difference for your toe health and comfort.

• Trim your nails properly. Clip your nails straight across. Don’t curve the ends or trim the corners because that can make the skin push over the nail edge. The curved edges can grow into the skin
• Keep your toenails a medium length. The nails should be roughly in line with your toes. Do not let them grow too long or cut them too short. Toenail that are too long or too short are more susceptible to pressure from your shoes. Especially with closed shoes, the top of the shoes can put pressure on your toenails and dig into the skin
• Buy shoes in the correct size. Your shoes should have deep enough and wide enough fronts so that your toes are not squeezed. One tip is to buy shoes at night, when your feet are at its largest. Choose shoes that have enough room in front of the tips of your toes. This gives your toes enough wiggle room so that the nails do not receive unwanted pressure.

Always check on your feet to see early signs of ingrown toenails and prevent it from getting worse. If you have an ingrown toenail or its symptoms, don’t wait for it to get worse. Consult with a medical professional or your local podiatrist. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our licensed podiatrists at one of over 80 clinics nationwide.