Taking care of your nails becomes even more important as you age. If you don’t properly care for your toenails, “it can cause problems,” says Michael Coyer, a foot and ankle surgeon in Orange County, California. -Long toenails protruding in front of shoes.
I have a solution. These expert strategies will help keep the problem at bay.
According to Alex Coe, a podiatrist at Witham Health Services, it’s generally physically possible to take care of your toenails and treat underlying conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, movement disorders, and vision problems. If you don’t have any serious medical problems, you can consider clipping your own nails.Spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, who lives in Lebanon, Indiana.
If you find it difficult to clip your nails, there are a few steps you can take to make clipping easier. “Tell patients to take a bath or shower or soak their feet in lukewarm water before clipping their toenails,” says associate professor of clinical dermatology and director of the Nail Division at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. says Shari Lipner. “Water softens thick nails and makes them easier to cut.”
Moisturizing the skin around your toenails regularly can also help. recommend to.
When cutting nails, be careful not to cut too much. “Over-trimming and cutting your toenails too short can lead to ingrown toenails,” says Coyer.
Kor says experts usually recommend leaving a very small bit of nail (one millimeter or 1/32 inch) beyond the nail bed when trimming. please. “It’s best to cut your nails fairly straight so that the corners of your nails don’t dig into the folds of skin on your toes,” says Coyer.
For people who are unable or unwilling to cut their own toenails, a podiatrist can provide both foot and toenail care. Insurance may not cover it unless it is considered medically necessary or there is an underlying medical condition. experts taking care of your feet.
If you’re generally healthy, a regular pedicure at a nail salon might be an option — and avoid the expense of uncovered services at a podiatrist’s office, says Kor. “But make sure the place is clean and ask how they sanitize their equipment (or bring your own),” he says.
Thick or discolored toenails don’t mean you have a serious problem, but anything painful, new, or worrisome should be discussed with a dermatologist or podiatrist. You should consult a doctor.
They can test for toenail fungus, advise topical or oral treatments if needed, treat ingrown toenails, and assess damage to nails from trauma. One reason: In some cases, the condition of your toenails can help spot health problems that need treatment.
psoriasisFor example, it can affect your toenails, making them thicker and even peeling them from the nail bed. .
“Don’t ignore the signs of potential problems,” says Lipner. “Toenails can signal everything from local infections to systemic disease.”
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