Why Big Toes are more likely to Suffer from Ingrown Toenails
- posted: Mar. 27, 2015
According to a recent study conducted by physicist Cyril Rauch, there’s a science as to why ingrown toenails are more likely to occur on big toes. When nails grow too quickly or slowly, stresses on the nail occur changing the nail’s natural curvature causing cuts into the skin near the nail. The study also found that pregnant women and children, those with a large share of growth hormones in their body, are more susceptible to the condition. Pedicures have also been known to increase the chances of an ingrown toenail occurring due to the process of flattening the nail bed.
Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are left unattended. To learn more, consult with Dr. Jeffrey Conforti of New Jersey. Dr. Conforti will provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.
Causes
- Bacterial infections
- Improper nail cutting such cutting it too short or not straight across
- Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
- Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
- Genetic predisposition
Prevention
Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.
Treatment
Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices located in Paramus and Clifton, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
