When you cut the edges of your toenails in a round shape instead of a square shape, the nails may be at risk of growing into the skin. Additionally, wearing tight shoes or socks may cause the nail to cut into the skin. By cutting your toenails straight across and wearing properly fitting shoes, you can avoid the painful condition known as an ingrown toenail.
If you’ve followed these preventative measures and still developed an ingrown toenail, it’s important to treat it properly. This means that treating it at home may not be the right way to deal with it.
Catching the ingrown as soon as possible is imperative – if you catch it early enough, you can soak your foot in warm water for about 15 minutes, then put a piece of cotton underneath the nail as it grows. However, if this doesn’t work, you should reach out to a podiatrist. Visiting a podiatrist will help you prevent infection that may occur when you try to treat a severe nail on your own.
Additionally, if you’re diabetic, you should visit a podiatrist instead of treating it yourself. It’s better to be safe than end up with an infection, or with an untreated ingrown toenail.