Nails Your Way

Toe Woes

Three out of every four Americans will have problems with their feet at least once in their lifetime. Combined with the fact that women experience four times as many foot health problems as men, it's a high probability that they will at some time complain of one or more foot disorders. Statistics show that nine out of ten women wear shoes that are too small. Feet have 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles; the foot is a complex structure that stands up to a lot of pressure. Each foot has a unique shape and no two are exactly alike. Just like your face, your nose, your hair, or your fingers, your feet are different from everyone else's. Wearing the wrong size, style and shape of shoes can cause numerous foot problems but ingrown toenails are the most common.

The results of an online women's shoe survey by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons show there are a lot of feet out there in dire need of attention and pampering. 43 million Americans say their feet hurt and that they have some kind of problems with their feet. Most women first experience foot-related problems between the ages of 20-29. 40% of women's heels do not fit properly; 45% report heel pain; 47% of respondents report calluses; 77% say they wear uncomfortable shoes for "work" or "style" reasons and 85% say they wear a particular pair of shoes less often as a result of a shoe-related foot problem.

Living with the pain and irritation of ingrown toenails can lead to serious problems if not taken care of correctly. Ingrown nails are nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the soft tissue of nail grooves, often leading to irritation, redness, and swelling. Usually, toenails grow straight out. But sometimes, one or both corners or sides curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe is usually the victim of this condition, but other toes can also become ingrown.

A nail that is more curved from side to side rather than being flat is also more likely to become an ingrown toenail. The shape of the nail is usually inherited, but it is commonly influenced by trauma and/or shoe pressure. Tight footwear will increase pressure between the skin in the nail fold and nail, increasing the risk of ingrown nails.

Proper trimming and rounding off the corners of the nail plate will prevent it from digging into the skin fold along the nail grooves. The side of the nail should be gently trimmed out and the border must be smooth. In many cases, proper nail trimming will prevent ingrown toenails. Regular pedicures paired with an attentive home maintenance regimen serve as excellent preventive measures. Those who suffer from ingrown toenails should wear properly fitting shoes and diligently get therapeutic pedicures every three or four weeks in order to alleviate those painful toe woes.

Read Jeanne's Latest Monthly Article In Chapel Hill News & Views.

Nails Your Way
Jeanne Grace Curtis
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Douglasville GA 30135-4726

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