HEALTHY LIVING
Go barefoot as often as possible. Ingrown toenails are unusual in cultures that don’t wear shoes.
Fix Your. . . Ingrown Toenail
OVERVIEW: An ingrown toenail, also called onychocryptosis, occurs when the edge of the toenail grows down into the surrounding skin. Symptoms include pain, redness, swelling, and dificulty walking. Ingrown toenails affect about 20% of people.
WHY YOU HAVE IT Age. Ingrown toenails are slightly
more common in people ages 15-25, and in older people. Sex. Men are twice as likely as
women to have ingrown toenails. Athletes. People who participate in
sports likely to put pressure on their toes, such as ballet, tennis, football, and running, are more likely to develop ingrown toenails. Genetics. Naturally curving nails
increase the odds. Poorly fitting shoes. Too-tight
shoes or shoes with pointed toes can cause ingrown toenails. Incorrectly cut toenails. Cutting
toenails too short or rounding their edges can cause ingrown toenails.
WHAT TO DO Go barefoot. Go
barefoot as often as
possible. Ingrown toenails are unusual in cultures that don’t wear shoes. Have a soak. Soak your feet in
warm water before cutting your toenails. Change footwear. Wear sandals
or roomy, comfortable shoes with wide toes that fit properly and allow you to wiggle your toes. If you have a job that increases your risk of injuring your toenails, wear protective footwear. Lift the edge of your nail. Gently
lift the edge of the ingrown nail and place a small bit of cotton between the nail and your skin to help the nail heal properly. Change the cotton daily. Use toenail protectors. Your local drugstore sells toe protectors, toe caps, and other products to help protect your toe while it heals.
Non-Surgical Toenail Treatment T
reating an ingrown toenail may no longer
require surgery or significant discomfort. A system called Onyfix offers a noninvasive, pain-free option designed to gently correct the problem as the nail grows.
96 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2026
The Onyfix procedure takes about 10 minutes and works much like braces for teeth. A podiatrist shapes a thin, flexible composite material to fit across the base of the affected nail. The material is then hardened using an LED
Trim nails straight. Cut toenails
straight across the top — do not round corners. Take painkillers. To ease the
pain of an ingrown toenail, take over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). Try apple cider vinegar. Many
people say that the old folk remedy of soaking feet in diluted apple cider vinegar is effective. Combine warm water with a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar in a basin and soak your toe for up to 20 minutes daily. Use an OTC antibiotic ointment.
Using an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, on an ingrown toenail can reduce the risk of infection.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS Ingrown toenails aren’t harmful and can usually be treated at home. However, if it becomes infected,
or if you have diabetes, you should consult with your healthcare provider, who may prescribe antibiotics or recommend toenail surgery. SOURCES: Mayo Clinic;
healthline.com; WebMD; Cleveland Clinic; NCBI
light, bonding it securely to the nail. Because the brace is cured
directly onto the nail, it stays in place and gradually guides the nail to grow in a healthier, more natural shape. By preventing the edges from curving inward toward the surrounding skin, Onyfix helps relieve pressure
and discomfort over time. As the nail grows, the
brace grows out with it, typically correcting the nail over several months. In addition to ingrown
toenails, Onyfix can also be used to treat split nails, including both vertical and horizontal cracks.
FEET/
ISTOCK.COM/BRIZMAKER / NAIL/
ISTOCK.COM/BLUERINGMEDIA
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
