Toenail problems
Our toenails are subjects to great deals of stress throughout our lives. Whatever the cause, ranging from toenail fungi, ingrown toenails, or general toenail trauma, the fact is that eight out of ten Americans experience some sort of feet problem. Most common of the aforementioned maladies, and a source of great discomfort and pain is the ingrown toenail. This article will first describe this issue, present its most common causes, arm you with some preventive measures and finally show you where to get the top toenail straightening spring clips to protect your nails from ingrowing and keep them in the best possible condition.
Ingrown Toenail
What exactly is an ingrown toenail condition? It occurs when the edge of toenail grows laterally, into the skin next to it. The ingrown aspect of the nail is more often than not unseen, because it is below the skin. In early stages, one can notice redness around the affected nail coupled with pain when wearing closed-toe shoes for extended periods of time. As time passes, pain and inflammation on the area worsen. In more severe cases, the area may bleed and the affected person may develop a fever.
Other common causes of ingrown toenails include:
- Fungal or bacterial infection – poor hygiene being a likely factor.
- Diabetes
- Genetic conditions
- Abnormally shaped nail beds
- Toenail injury and repetitive trauma
Preventive Measures
Prevention is better than a cure, as they say. The following bullet list should shield you from developing an ingrown nail condition:
- Trim your toenails straight across – don’t curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toe.
- Keep toenails at a moderate length – so that they’re even with the tips of your toes.
- Wear shoes that fit properly – preferably from shops specializing in shoes for people with feet problems.
- Wear protective footwear – if your lifestyle or work puts you at risk of injury.
- Check your feet – regularly, for signs of ingrown toenails or problems of other nature.
Invest in a quality Toenail Straightening Spring Clip
A toenail straightening spring clip is a device created to fix the curls of your toenails. It is like a dental brace, applying force that “lifts” the side of your toenail, reducing the pressure on the toe and straightening the nail.
Here are some quality products we found for you, along with their respective sources. Simply visit the company’s website to order the clip you best like:
Scholl: Ingrowing Toenail, Complete Clip and Spray Kit
This complete package tackles the ingrown toenail problem in two ways. Firstly, there’s a cooling aerosol spray included that brings relief into the problem area. That spray can be applied up to five times a day with one hour intervals between treatments. Secondly, there’s an excellent toenail straightening clip. According to the manufacturers, one should apply a clip when the nail has a length of at least 2mm behind the end of the toe. You should expect relief of discomfort right after applying it, and depending on individual speed of growth, the nail will be straightened in six weeks max. Note that the clip is versatile, and can be applied to various nail sizes.
CurveCorrect: Ingrown Toenail Home Treatment Kit
This products treatment method, known as Orthonyxia or Ingrown Toenail Bracing attempts to straighten the toenail curl directly by applying to it the appropriate corrective pressure, much like a dental brace. Depending on your toenails thickness, width and curvature different types of braces can be provided by CurveCorrect, ranging from ultra-low to extremely high tensions. As a general rule, the thicker and wider the toenail the more pressure is required. The more curved it is, the less brace tension necessary.
You should expect pain to be reduced or even eliminated shortly after applying the brace, with the curve of the toenail lessening over a period of one to three weeks. Healing of infected or inflamed tissue will naturally occur through the reduction of pressure from the toenail. In general, after the end of the treatment, your toenail will appear wider, flatter and healthier.
And have no worries. Easy-to-use application instructions are included in this package.
Conclusion
If you take your preventive measures, you should be safe from toenail issues. If you do end up developing an ingrown toenail condition, your best bet is a quality toenail straightening spring clip. The aforementioned products are specifically designed to give you the best results possible, and you would do well to consider them when making your choice.
Do take note, however, that while at-home treatment is very convenient and often effective and long-lasting, in the most extreme of cases, like when your ingrown toenail gets sickeningly foul smelling or the pain gets severe and spreading, you should always consult a doctor in order to get a professional evaluation and specialist foot-care treatment.