MD Podiatrist Discusses How to Prevent Ingrown Toenails

Taking care of toenails also becomes more important as we age. If you can’t care for your toenails properly, “it can lead to problems down the line,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. Neglect, for instance, can lead to painful ingrown toenails and damage to too-long toenails that have been bumping up against the front of your shoes.
 
When cutting nails, take care not to cut too far down. “Over-aggressive trimming and cutting the toenails too short can lead to ingrown toenails,” Dr. Michaels says. “It’s best to cut the nails fairly straight across, ensuring that the corners of the nail do not cut into the skin folds of the toe,” Michaels says.