Your toenails protect the tops of your toes. Made of a strong protein called keratin, your toenails have to stand up to a lot of wear-and-tear on a daily basis.
You can support your toenails by regularly trimming them using the correct tools and technique. Proper toenail care lowers your risk ofnail problemsand podiatry issues like ingrown toenails or toenail fungus infections.
Expert podiatristLeonard Greenwald, DPM, treats new and existing patients from hisofficein San Jose, California. Dr. Greenwald can help if you have a toenail problem currently. He can also recommend tips and techniques to maintain your toenails correctly, protecting you from problems in the future.
Here’s what Dr. Greenwald thinks you need to know about toenail trimming and care.
How frequently to trim
On average, you should trim your toenails about once a week. If your nails grow slowly, you may be able to skip a week here or there without too much trouble, but you should still maintain a regular nail-trimming habit or schedule.
Longer toenails become an increasing risk for podiatric problems as you leave them to grow. Long nails are more likely to break and provide opportunities forfungal infectionsto take root, or for hangnails or tears to lead to painful exposure of your underlying nail bed.
Trimming tips and techniques
If your toenails are very thick or tough, soaking in a bath, shower, or foot bath before trimming can soften them and make it easier to cut your nails with accuracy and comfort.
You should alwaystrim your toenailsstraight across. It’s okay to leave the corners of your nails a little on the longer side – you mostly don’t want sharp edges to put you at risk of ingrown toenails.
When trimming your toenails, take care not to cut into your cuticles, as this can result in irritation or infection.
If you soaked your nails, let them dry before picking up your nail file. Finish by rounding off the corners of each toenail with the nail file in order to reduce the sharpness that can potentially cause ingrown toenails.
The right tools for the job
Make sure you have the tools you need for proper toenail care. You need good clippers that are the right size for your nails. If your clippers have gotten dull and difficult to use, you may need to replace them. You’ll also need a good nail file to round out the corners of your toenails after trimming.
When you take good care of your toenails, you lower your risk for ingrown toenails, broken nails, toe deformities, toenail fungus, and other common podiatry issues.
If you have chronic conditions like diabetes, or other reasons why you could need professional support with foot care, get in touch with Dr. Greenwald for the podiatry services you need. Contact our officeonlineorover the phonetoday to schedule your appointment.
FAQs
It is important to make sure that you cut your toenails straight across, leaving them long enough so that the corners lie loosely against the skin at the sides. In other words, don't trim your toenails too short, don't round the edges, and also don't try to cut the toenails into a pointy V-shape.
Do podiatrists cut toenails for the elderly? ›
Podiatrists cut toenails and play a crucial role by offering specialized care to maintain the health of elderly feet and enhance comfort while relieving pain. Not limited to diagnosis and treatment, podiatrists are equipped to provide essential services like toenail cutting and maintenance for seniors near me.
How often should a podiatrist cut your toenails? ›
How often should you ask for the help of a specialist? Toenails grow about two millimeters per month, so your loved one may need a trim every six to eight weeks.
What is improper trimming of toenails? ›
The problem is, if your nails are too short, you run the risk of developing an ingrown toenail; if your nails are too long, they're likely to snag on your sock or shoe and tear uncomfortably. The best length to leave your nails is at 1-2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 of an inch) above where they attach to the toe.
How do you cut your toenails incorrectly? ›
Cutting your toenails seems like a simple task, but, if done wrong, it can result in ingrown toenails, cut skin, or the spread of fungus. To properly cut your toenails, cut straight across the nail, use the right tools, and thoroughly clean those tools between uses.
How to trim elderly toenails? ›
Trimming the nails
Start at the corner of the nail, and make small straight cuts all the way across your toenail. Taking small cuts helps prevent splintering. Don't use the nail nippers to round the edges of the nail. Cut straight across.
How often will Medicare pay for a podiatrist to cut toenails? ›
Medicare will cover the treatment of corns, calluses, and toenails once every 61 days in persons having certain systemic conditions. Examples of such conditions include: Diabetes with peripheral arterial disease, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic phlebitis.
Why do seniors get thick toenails? ›
Blood circulation is when the small blood vessels in our feet begin to narrow and become thicker, making it harder for the blood to flow. This then causes the nail cells to build up causing the nail to thicken from the nail root. This process is called onychoctes.
Is it better to cut toenails wet or dry? ›
Tips To Properly Cutting Toenails
Disinfect your toenail clippers after every use. Leave your nails a little long. This will prevent any pain caused by having nails that are too short, and it also prevents the nails from growing up into the skin. Trim your nails when they are dry, not wet.
What happens if you don't clip your toenails? ›
Longer toenails become an increasing risk for podiatric problems as you leave them to grow. Long nails are more likely to break and provide opportunities for fungal infections to take root, or for hangnails or tears to lead to painful exposure of your underlying nail bed.
Sharp Curved Blade
Professional podiatrist toenail clippers are made of high quality surgical grade stainless steel for sharp and durability. Podiatrist tools are very sharp and can cut off any rough edges without pain.
What should properly trimmed toenails look like? ›
A good range is about 1-2 mm of white – enough so you're not cutting too deeply, but not extending past the toes and risking the nails becoming caught or torn. On average, toenails grow at about 1-2 mm per month. Clipping every 6-8 weeks tends to be a good rate for most people.
Why shouldn't you cut toenails curved? ›
At the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, Fred Beaumont says that cutting toenails so they're curved encourages them to grow inward. "It's the most common mistake people make," he says. ✤.
What do unhealthy toenails look like? ›
Toenails that appear yellow or brownish in pigment are usually a sign of a fungal infection. Toenail fungus often begins with an athlete's foot infection underlying the nail, which then spreads to the toenail itself. Yellow coloration is often accompanied by nail thickening with a dry and crumbly texture.
Is there a wrong way to cut your nails? ›
“The correct way to trim your nails is to cut them straight across with no curvature,” says Ebonie Vincent, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon at Orange County Podiatry in Orange and Long Beach, Calif. You can see an image here for the right shape they should be. The ACFAS also says you shouldn't cut your nails too short.
Why should toenails be cut straight across rather than down at the sides? ›
Actually, you should cut your toenails straight across. When you have rounded corners, especially when you cut them far back into your nail bed, the toenails can curve downward as they grow out. This can cause the edges of the nails to grow into your skin and result in an ingrown toenail.
What do pincer toenails look like? ›
The pincer nail is a relatively common nail deformity, characterized by a thickened, excessively curved nail plate impinging on both lateral nail folds. With an incidence of around 0.9%, it commonly affects the great toenails.
