The feet you inherit may be one of the causes of ingrown toenails, but shoe choice and your own hygiene habits may be to blame, too. Some peoples’ nails grow more curved than others, but tight shoes are another problem. They push your flesh over the nail, causing swelling, redness, and pain.
This is made even worse if you don’t trim your nails properly. You should always cut them in a straight line. If you round them too much, or cut them too short, you encourage the flesh to push over the nail even more.
Trauma to your toe, like jamming it during a soccer kick or stubbing it on furniture, can also lead to this condition. If the skin is pierced, you risk a bacterial infection besides.
