Nails that grow towards the tissue under them are called ingrown nails. Ingrown nails can be a painful condition that affects your daily activities and causes redness, swelling and irritation in the skin surrounding the nail.
Do you suffer from ingrown nails? If so, you know how painful and frustrating they can be.
In this article, we will discuss some of the best ways to prevent ingrown nails from occurring in the first place.
1- Trim Your Nails Correctly
In order to prevent ingrown nails from happening, make sure you cut your nails gently and correctly because sharp edges might cut into the skin around it causing pain and infection. If necessary, get a professional manicure at least once a month for best results. You can also use a clipper or a file to shorten them gradually.
2- Do Not Cut Your Cuticles
In order to prevent ingrown nails from happening, you should never cut your cuticles. Cutting the skin surrounding the nails may cause more pain and swelling or it can pull out healthy skin cells that will leave a hole in place of the cuticle.
3- Moisturize Your Feet
Nail fungus can be an underlying reason of ingrown nails because they grow more when moist and warm. If you have this problem, make sure to moisturize your feet every day with any kind of cream or oil such as Shea butter or olive oil before going to bed at night.
4- Wear Protective Gloves
In some cases, this condition occurs due to contact with chemicals which makes gloves necessary especially if you spend extensive periods in places where chemicals are used such as pools, public laundries or if your job requires frequent contact with chemicals.
5- Avoid Tight Shoes
In order to prevent ingrown nails from happening, you should wear shoes that do not fit too tight and do not put pressure on the area surrounding the nail. Such shoes may cause squeezing which will damage the tissue under the nail causing it to grow into the skin.
6- Keep Your Feet Clean And Dry
When trying how to prevent ingrown nails most people neglect their feet hygiene which causes more bacteria resulting in an infection around them most notably corns and calluses. Therefore, you should keep your feet clean and dry by washing them with water daily especially after exercising or exposing them to moisture for long periods of time.
7- Do Not Cut Corns
It is important to leave corns and calluses intact and do not cut them because they protect the skin from damage and injury. Also, you should never try using over-the-counter medications such as nail polishes without consulting a doctor because it can worsen your condition.
8- Try Using Warm Compresses
In order to prevent ingrown nails from happening, you should try using warm compresses that will help reduce pain and swelling of the area around them
9- Consult A Podiatrist Practitioner
Visit a podiatry practitioner who specializes in removing ingrown nails for best results and proper treatment.
10- Do Some Exercises Regularly
Physical exercise is also very important when trying how to prevent ingrown nails because it will increase blood circulation that will help keep your nails healthier and prevent them from growing toward the skin.
Preventing ingrown nails can be as simple as taking some easy steps and being mindful of how you care for your nails. In this article, we have outlined a few methods that should help you keep your nails healthy and free from infection. If you experience any pain or discomfort around your nails, please consult a doctor to seek proper treatment. Thanks for reading!
