How to Cut Your Toenails

Clipping toenails – it seems like an everyday, mundane task, but the technique behind it is more important than you may think. Improper technique can lead to pain, ingrown toenails, and infection. What follows are tips on how to cut your toenails to avoid some of these problems.

§ If you have diabetes, or any other problems with circulation, it is important to have a trained professional do this work for you. A healthcare professional, like a podiatrist, will help you avoid injury and infection that is very common with diabetic patients.

§ Use the proper equipment. Toenail clippers are wider than fingernail clippers. They are made to handle the wider and thicker nails of the foot. You can keep your toenail clippers clean by disinfecting them with some rubbing alcohol before and after use.

§ Straight Cuts. You want to cut straight across the edge of the toenail, without curving the corners. This will help you to avoid ingrown toenails, which is when the corner of the nail grows into the skin. Also, keep your nails a little long. Cutting the nails too short is another way to get ingrown toenails, plus it can really hurt.

§ A Few Small Cuts. Don’t try to get the whole nail in one clip. Instead, make a few, smaller cuts across the whole nail. This will give you more control, and you’ll be able to shape the nail a whole lot easier, without getting into the corners.

§ Cut When Dry. Cutting your nails when they are wet, such as after bathing, is never a good idea. Wet nails are much easier to rip and tear, which can lead to cutting the nails to short, or tearing at the nail matrix, the living tissue underneath the nail. Instead, trim your nails when they are dry, perhaps before bathing.

§ One Way Filing. If you like to file your nails, file in one direction, straight across the free edge of the nail. Filing can be an easier way to trim the nails, and an easier way to shape them so they look nice.

§ Don’t Cut the Cuticles. This can lead to infection, irritation, and pain. If you want to do anything to them, use a cuticle stick to push them back a little bit, but be careful not to dig into the skin. You can buy a cuticle stick at most pharmacies.

§ Timing may vary. Different people’s toenails grow at different rates. One person may have to trim them once a week, while others can go several weeks between trims. When you think it’s time to trim them, go ahead. Just be careful not to trim them too short.

Follow, these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthy nail regimen. If you have any additional questions or concerns, or if you notice any changes in the nail, contact a local podiatrist. Changes in the nail can often indicate disease, and should be dealt with promptly.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center
101 6th St Nw
Winter Haven, Fl 33881
Phone: (863) 299-4551
www.FLFootandAnkle.com