Care Tips For Toenails
- Sept. 1, 2022
- Nail Care
I think we can all agree that caring for our toenails is not at the top of our priority list. And most of the time people tend to think, “Oh they just need a little trim” which is not the case. There is a lot that goes into taking care of your toenails than just trimming them every now and then. You need to ensure you’re not only using the right tools, but also using them the right way and trimming your nails correctly.
As much as toenails are not as visible as fingernails, caring for them is still as important. And this is not only because it makes your feet more comfortable, but also because it protects you against certain fungal nail infections. But all this can be quite simple if you follow a routine and remain consistent in it. In this article, we get to take you through a few tips to help you keep your toenails beautiful and healthy.
- Trim toenails properly
Try trimming your toenails at least once every week and maybe skip a week if there hasn’t been that much growth. This will help keep them healthy and strong. Make sure you trim your nails straight across and keep them short to prevent infections and ingrown toenails, which can be quite painful. But if you prefer a rounded shape rather than a straight shape then use a nail file to keep the edges a bit rounded.
- Care for your cuticles
We tend to forget about our cuticles after trimming which is okay but still plays a huge role when caring for your toenails. After trimming your toenails, push your cuticles back towards your skin using a cuticle pusher or an orange stick. This will help create more room for nail polish. But make sure you don’t push them too hard as this might risk tearing and exposing your feet to fungal infections. Then rub some cuticle oil to soften and moisturize the hardened edges.
- Use nail polish
Before using a new nail polish, make sure you completely get rid of the old polish on your nails first. Do this using an acetone-free nail polish remover since it can be very drying. But still ensure you’re leaving your nails free from polish every now and then. This gives your nails a breather and a chance to recover from the chemicals in the polish. Another tip is to make sure you are not staying too long with nail polish because some nail polishes cause discolouration since they stain the nails if left on for too long.
- Wearing appropriate shoes and socks
I know shoes and socks are not really the first thing you think of when it comes to toenail care. But wearing proper-fitting shoes and appropriate socks are really critical to toenail care. Wearing too loose or to tight shoes might cause blisters while wearing too narrow or too high shoes might force your toenails to grow inward. Wearing damp and sweaty socks also creates an environment for bacterial growth which might lead to infection and fungus.
- Check and treat infections
Toenails are prone to problems such as toenail fungus and ingrown toenails. Toenail fungus are usually causes thickening of the nails and can be treated by a Podiatrist. Avoid cutting nails with fungal infection as this might cause further damage. Ingrown toenails on the other hand are caused by improper trimming of your toenails such as cutting them too short. But the good news is they can be treated at home.
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