What causes your toenail to curve in?
What causes your toenail to curve in?
Nails that curve far inward at the sides are called ingrown nails. This condition may affect the toenails and be due to wearing shoes that are too tight, particularly in the toe box. Ingrown nails may also result from cutting the nails improperly. In some cases, treatment may involve removing part or all of the nail.
Why is my toenail digging into my skin?
What Are Common Causes and Risk Factors of an Ingrown Toenail? Tight-fitting shoes or high heels cause the toes to be compressed together and pressure the nail to grow abnormally. Improper trimming of toenails can cause the corners of the nail to dig into the skin. Nails should be trimmed straight across, not rounded.
What happens if your toenail grows into your skin?
An ingrown toenail may cause pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection around the toenail. Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection.
How do I stop my toenails from curling?
The most important thing you can do is trim your toenails using a strong, sharp nail clipper. Cut each toenail to the point where it begins to curve upward. Cut the nail straight across without cutting the edges inward. It’s also important to leave the nail a little long to prevent it from growing inward.
Why do my toenails curl over my toe?
If you notice that your toenails have a curled appearance or that the lateral edges seem to slope inward toward one another as the free edge grows, you may have what’s known as a pincer nail. Learn more about this condition and why you might be at risk for ingrown toenails if you have it.
How can I make my toenails grow straight?
How do you treat a curved toenail at home?
Here’s how:
- Soak your feet in warm water. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes three to four times a day.
- Place cotton or dental floss under your toenail. After each soaking, put fresh bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the ingrown edge.
- Apply antibiotic cream.
- Choose sensible footwear.
- Take pain relievers.
Why do my toenails curl downward?
If you wear high heels or shoes that don’t fit properly, you may suffer from toes that are curling down. When you wear shoes that are too tight, your toes can become crowded. That forces them into a bent position and puts pressure on the toes and joints. Muscles tighten and shorten after a while.
How do you fix pincer toenails?
Lastly, if you have severe, recurring pincer nails, your podiatrist may opt for a surgery to completely remove the nail matrix or root. During these surgeries, the podiatrist will use a local anesthetic to numb your foot. Then they may use a chemical or a laser to remove the toenail.
Does Vicks Vapor Rub help ingrown toenails?
Vicks VapoRub can help ease the pain of an ingrown toenail since it contains menthol and camphor, which are topical analgesics. It may also soften the nail if you’re trying to clip it.
What causes curved toenails?
Iron and zinc deficiencies or thyroid problems may cause nails to curve upward, exposing them to trauma. Nails that curve downward may indicate heart and liver problems, respiratory problems or a deficiency in Vitamin B12.
Can curved toenails be corrected?
If your curved toenails continue to come back, see a doctor. A medical expert can prescribe a medical brace to the curved nail to allow it to grow to a length where it can be cut off, or remove a section of the nail completely so it can grow normally starting from the nail bed.
What makes toenails curl?
Answer. Toe nails curl when they have left the edge of the nail bed. In other words they only will head off in the wrong direction when they are no longer attached to a part of the body. In the case of ingrown toe nails they grow into the skin on the outer portions of the toe, penetrating dermis and allowing for the entry…
Why do toenails grow curved?
Trauma. One of the most common reasons this happens is if the toe has suffered some kind of damage.