It may seem rather insignificant, but caring for your toenails is an essential part in maintaining your overall health. Without the proper care, toenail complications and abnormalities can become debilitating and can cause an immense amount of pain. In this foot nail care guide, we show you quick and easy tips on how to take care of toenails.
- Keeping Your Feet Clean
Remember to wash your feet daily, and make sure to do it thoroughly. Get in between your toes, and under you nails. This ensures that your feet steer clear of warts or fungus. While nail brushes are typically used on the hands and fingernails, you can definitely use it on your feet and toenails as well. This is the best way on how to take care of toenails.
2. Cutting Your Toenails
Contrary to popular belief, there is a right way to cut your toenails. Follow a round shape as opposed to a square one. To do this, simply cut your toenails straight across, then file the edges into a rounded shape. This avoids jagged edges that can cause ingrown nails. Cut your nails weekly or every other week to keep them clean and short to avoid infections.
3. Don’t Touch Your Cuticles
When getting pedicures, it’s common for nail technicians to poke, push, or cut your cuticles. This is not good for your nails at all. Cuticles are protective layers on your nails that prevent infection on your nail beds. The next time you get your nails done, tell the nail technicians not to touch your cuticles and keep them in place.
4. Choose the Right Footwear
If you’re fond of wearing tight, closed-toe shoes, you’re more likely to get fungal infections. Instead, wear comfortable shoes, a pair that fits just right, and avoid ones that apply to much pressure to certain areas of your feet to avoid both fungal infections and blisters.
Fungus thrive in warm, moist environments, so wearing socks and shoes while your feet are still wet will help them grow and spread. Make sure your feet are completely dry before slipping on your socks and shoes, and remember to change your socks daily.
Additionally, if you spend a lot of time in public showers and pool areas, it is much preferred that you wear flip-flops. Going barefoot will increase your chances of exposure to fungus and germs.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating the right food can actually help maintain stronger nails. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins so that your nails can resist damage. Make sure to also incorporate enough calcium into your diet to avoid nail discoloration and breakage.
6. Fixing Ingrown Nails
Ingrown toenails can be painful, but it’s easy to get rid of. There are natural ways to treat ingrown toenails. For mild cases, you can simply soak or wash the affected foot in warm, soapy water with Epsom salt to soften the area. In other cases, you can use apple cider vinegar and essential oils.
7. Fighting Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a condition that is a lot more common than you think. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t go away on its own. However, there are multiple treatment options you can try, including the easiest and most effective one: topical solutions. These topical solutions come in a small bottle with a brush applicator for easy use. The solution penetrates the nail bed, and, with regular application, kills the source of the fungus, restoring beautiful, clearer nails in the process.
