Did you know you can also develop an ingrown nail just based on your genetics? Sometimes it can be as simple as the way your nail grows from infancy can cause it to curve too much and cut into the side. You may have also damaged your nail and permanently changed the direction of your nail growth.

And did you know that ingrown nails don’t just happen on your toes? Your fingernails are also susceptible to ingrowns! They occur less frequently since we’re not usually squeezing our fingers into shoes that don’t fit. Also, the shape of our nails makes it less likely to curve into your skin.

 

When the shape of your nail changes, the ridges that help hold your nail in place can lose their stability and connection causing the nail to slice and ride into your skin. A number of things can cause this, injury, infection, growth that is either too slow or too fast, nail-biting, nail damage or trauma.

 

Ingrown nails are not always easy to notice. In fact, you may not always feel pain or see swelling or redness of any sort in some cases. It is important that if you see the nail beginning to fold under your skin to realize that this could be a sign of an ingrown nail.

 

Some individuals, such as diabetics or individuals, who have a condition that restricts the blood flow to the feet, are at a greater risk at obtaining an ingrown toenail.

 

Don’t forget to trim your nails in a generally straight line across the nails and round corners for the edges. Also, make sure not to let your nails grow too long. Keeping your nails long can invite shoe and sock dust and dirt as well as build up of fungus and bacteria underneath the nail. Be sure to always wear comfortable shoes, never anything that is too tight or restraining. And be sure to wash your feet with soap and water while changing your socks regularly!