Ingrown toenails can cause a lot of pain and be hard to get rid of, but knowing the causes of ingrown toenails can help you from getting them in the first place. Ingrown toenails occur when the side of your nail literally grows into the skin of your toe. As you can imagine, they are very painful, and cause your toe to become red and swollen, and even result in an infection. There are many causes of ingrown toenails and by avoiding the causes, you can avoid a lot of pain.

1. Improper cutting

One of the most common causes of ingrown toenails is not cutting them correctly. Did you know there was a right way to cut your toenails? You probably didn’t, but it turns out cutting your toenails correctly can make a big difference in avoiding ingrown toenails. You want to cut your nails straight across and not make them too short. Short, curvy nails can lead to ingrown toenails.

2. Small Shoes

Have you ever wedged your feet into a pair of shoes that was too small? While you may have had a good reason for doing this, you should know that wearing shoes that are too small for you can actually cause ingrown toenails. Shoes that are too tight or short can push the side of the nail into your skin.Ouch!

3. Injured Toenails

There are so many different ways to injure your toenail. Whether you drop something heavy on your foot or stub your toe, you could injure your nail. Injured nails are much more likely to become ingrown. If injured nails fall out, new nails are prone to becoming ingrown. So, be careful and try not drop things on your feet!

4. Sports

The last thing you are probably thinking of when you are engaged in an athletic activity is ingrown toenails. However, ingrown toenails can be caused by the repetitive stress certain sports place on your toes. Soccer, running, and ballet are a few examples of athletic activities that can result in ingrown toenails. Wearing proper footwear and using good technique can greatly reduce the risk of ingrown toenails from sports.

5. Improper Hygiene

I am sure you know the importance of good hygiene, but did you know it can help prevent ingrown toenails? Ingrown toenails are much more likely to occur if your feet are hot and sweaty. Always remember to change your socks after you work out.