Ingrown toenails can be a real pain in the foot. Not only can they make walking painful, but the pain can be severe enough to limit your mobility. The good news is that you may be able to prevent and relieve ingrown nails by wearing the right shoes. Various factors can make ingrown toenails a more likely and serious issue. If you regularly suffer from ingrown nails, genetics, lifestyle, and shoes may make your nails more prone to becoming ingrown. Should underlying issues contribute to ingrown nails, it’s crucial to resolve them to prevent issues now and in the future.
Shoes specifically, if they put pressure on your feet and especially your toes, could lead to the nail growing improperly. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time in said pair of shoes. The longer and more consistently the toes come under pressure, the more serious and common the ingrown nails may be. So, you’ll want to pay especially close attention to your work or daily shoes.
A pair of high heels or dress shoes that you wear for only a few hours here and there may not be as pressing of a concern, at least as far as ingrown nails. That said, poorly fitting shoes can aggravate any ingrown nails you currently suffer. Even short stints could also make ingrown nails more common as well.
Nails grow pretty much constantly. Ideally, the growth is healthy and doesn’t cut into your skin. However, if shoes pressure the toenails, it can interfere with and direct the growth into the skin or flesh of your foot. Once the nail grows into other tissue, it can trigger nerves, cut tissues, and cause other problems.
