How should you properly trim your toenails? Discover the step-by-step instructions and common mistakes to avoid for healthy, pain-free feet.

Importance of Proper Toenail Trimming

Cutting your toenails properly is an essential step in maintaining overall foot health and preventing painful conditions like ingrown toenails. Improper toenail trimming techniques can lead to a variety of complications that may require medical attention. As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Eric Blanson at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, has seen many patients suffer from the consequences of improperly trimmed toenails.

The 6 Steps to Properly Trim Toenails

Cutting your toenails the right way involves following these six key steps:

1. Use the Proper Tools

Use nail clippers or manicure scissors designed specifically for cutting nails. Avoid using regular scissors or knives, as they are not optimized for this task. It’s also recommended to have separate clippers for your fingers and toes, as toenails are thicker and require a larger tool.

2. Trim Toenails Regularly

Most people’s toenails grow about 2 millimeters per month, so it’s best to trim them every 6-8 weeks. However, if you are very active or an athlete, you may need to trim them more frequently to prevent them from getting too long.

3. Trim Dry or Wet Nails?

In most cases, it’s better to trim your toenails before showering, as dry nails are less likely to bend or tear during the cutting process. For those with very thick toenails, trimming after a shower can make the process easier.

4. Maintain the Ideal Nail Length

It’s recommended to keep your toenails trimmed to a length of about 1-2 millimeters. Cutting them too short can increase the risk of ingrown toenails, while leaving them too long increases the chance of them catching on something and tearing.

5. Cut Straight Across

To avoid painful ingrown toenails, always cut your toenails straight across. Many find it easiest to do this in two cuts – the first to create a straight edge, and the second to remove the rest of the nail.

6. File the Edges

After cutting, use an emery board to smooth any jagged edges that could potentially snag and tear the nail as it grows.

Cutting Thick or Fungal Toenails

If your toenails are unusually thick, whether due to a fungal infection or other reasons, the trimming process may require some additional steps:

Thick Toenails

For thick toenails, soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften the nails before trimming. Use small cuts with the clippers to avoid splintering the nail, and don’t round off the corners to lessen the chance of an ingrown toenail.

Fungal Toenails

Cutting toenails with a fungal infection is similar to thick toenails, but you’ll also need to disinfect the clippers using alcohol or diluted bleach between uses to prevent spreading the fungus. Medical-grade clippers may be required if standard ones can’t fully cut through the thickened nail.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your toenails are excessively thick or you have a fungal infection that is causing pain or other complications, it’s best to consult a podiatrist like Dr. Blanson. They can provide the proper treatment and guidance on safely trimming your nails.

Avoiding Common Toenail Trimming Mistakes

Many people make simple mistakes when clipping their toenails that can lead to serious issues. Some of the most common errors include:

Cutting Nails Too Short

Cutting your toenails too short increases the risk of developing painful ingrown toenails.

Rounding the Corners

Rounding the corners of your toenails, rather than cutting them straight across, can also contribute to ingrown toenails.

Using Improper Tools

Using regular scissors or knives instead of nail clippers designed for the job can tear and damage the nails.

Not Disinfecting Tools

Failing to properly disinfect your nail clippers between uses can spread fungal infections from one toe to another.

By following the proper toenail trimming techniques and avoiding these common mistakes, you can help ensure the health and comfort of your feet. Remember, if you have any concerns or difficulties with your toenails, it’s always best to consult a podiatrist for professional guidance and treatment.

How to Cut Toenails: Step-by-Step Instructions

The best way to cut toenails

Cutting your toenails properly is an important step in preventing painful ingrown toenails — a condition when nails curve and grow into the skin, which often leads to pain and sometimes to infection.

There are six main components or steps to cutting your toenails properly.

1. Nail clippers

The first step is to use the proper nail-cutting tool. Nail clippers or manicure scissors are appropriate. Avoid tools such as regular scissors or knives that aren’t specifically designed for cutting nails.

You should have two nail clippers — one for your fingers and one for your toes. Since your toenails are broader and thicker, they require a larger clipper. Also, by having separate clippers, you reduce the chance of transferring bacteria or fungus between your feet and hands. Make sure to clean your clippers thoroughly between each use.

2. Cut frequency

The second step is the frequency of cutting. Most people’s toenails grow about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) a month, so it’s appropriate to cut them every six to eight weeks. That being said, if you are a very active person or an athlete — especially a runner — you will probably be more comfortable if you trim them more often.

3. Cutting wet or dry nails

The third step is answering a common question: “Should I cut my nails before or after I shower?” In most cases, the answer is “before.” Dry toenails are less likely to bend or tear when you cut them, so you will get a cleaner cut.

For people with very thick toenails, cutting will be easier after a shower.

4. Time between cuts

The fourth step is determining how long to leave your toenails following the cut. This is important, because cutting your toenails too short could heighten your risk for ingrown toenails. If you leave your toenails too long, they are more likely to get caught on something and tear.

It’s recommended that you maintain your toenails at a length of about 1 to 2 millimeters (0. 04 to 0.08 inches).

5. Cutting the nail

The fifth step is the actual cut. To avoid painful ingrown toenails, cut your toenails straight across. For many people, this is easiest to do in two cuts — the first one with the clippers slightly off the side of the nail to create a straight edge; the second to remove the rest of the nail following the line of the straight cut.

6. Filing the nail

The sixth and final step is to file your nails with an emery board to smooth any jagged edges that could snag and potentially tear the nail as it grows.

Your toenails might be thick for any of a number of reasons, including:

• fungal infection, such as onychomycosis
• psoriasis, a skin condition that causes rapid cell build up on the skin’s surface
• injury
• tight-fitting shoes

To properly cut your thick toenails, follow these steps:

1. Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your nails, and then use a towel to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails.
2. Using a nail clipper, make small cuts to avoid splintering the nail and cut straight across. To lessen the chance of the nail becoming ingrown, don’t round off the corners.
3. Use an emery board to smooth edges and corners that could snag.

If your thickened toenails are painful or you don’t think that you can safely cut your toenails without help, ask your doctor for advice.

Cutting toenails with fungus is similar to the process for cutting thick toenails. If you leave the fungus untreated, your nails will continue to thicken and might get to a thickness that requires some additional action including:

• medical-grade toenail clippers, as standard clippers may not be able to cut all the way through and can slip off the nail and cut your skin
• longer foot soak (20 or 30 minutes in warm water)
• clipper disinfection using alcohol or diluted bleach

If you think that you have a fungal infection, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Cutting your toenails seems like a simple task, but, if done wrong, it can result in ingrown toenails, cut skin, or the spread of fungus.

To properly cut your toenails, cut straight across the nail, use the right tools, and thoroughly clean those tools between uses. If you have unusually thick toenails or have a toe fungus, take special care when clipping your nails.

In many cases, talking to your doctor about foot care is necessary.

Mistakes You’re Making When Clipping Your Toenails: Eric Blanson, DPM: Sports Medicine

How you cut your toenails may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it’s actually an important part of maintaining your overall health and wellness, especially if you’re a diabetic.

Here at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, Dr. Eric Blanson and our team see lots of patients whose improper clipping techniques have caused complications that require medical attention. 

To help you avoid such complications, we’ve put together this guide on common mistakes people make and the correct technique to ensure your podiatric health.

Ingrown toenails: A common problem

Any nail can become ingrown, but the most common nail is the one on your big toe. Ingrown nails occur because:

• The skin on the toe grows over the nail itself
• The nail grows into the skin around it

Both occurrences usually result from clipping your nails improperly, and they lead to a hard, painful, red swelling at the corner of the nail. If left untreated, these leave you vulnerable to either a bacterial or a fungal infection.

Bacterial infections usually leak pus and, sometimes, blood. Fungal infections produce discolored toenails that are thick, brittle, and smell bad.

Complications from an ingrown toenail can become especially severe if you have diabetes, which causes circulatory problems that lead to poor blood flow in the feet, as well as nerve damage resulting in the loss of sensation. A simple cut can lead to an infected ulcer.

Common toenail-clipping mistakes and how to correct them

Here are a number of common mistakes people make and how to avoid them.

Using the wrong tool

Using regular cutting scissors or even knives for your nails doesn’t do the job properly, and you run the risk of cutting yourself in the process.

The correct tools are dedicated nail clippers or manicure scissors. In fact, you should have two pairs, a smaller one for your fingers, and a larger one for the broader, thicker nails on your toes. 

In addition, by using separate clippers, you reduce the chance of bacterial or fungal contamination between your feet and hands.

Thoroughly clean each of your clippers between uses with 70%-90% isopropyl alcohol, rinsing them with hot water and drying them completely before putting away.

Clipping nails while wet

It’s tempting to wait until you get out of the bath or shower to cut your nails, as they’ll be softer. The trouble is, your nails are likely to bend or tear when you try to cut them, and you run the risk of injury.

Unless you have thick toenails, which soften in the bath, you should cut them when they’re dry to ensure a clean cut.

Clipping your nails too long or too short

Lots of people cut their nails way back, so they don’t have to do it too often, or they leave them too long, for appearance. 

The problem is, if your nails are too short, you run the risk of developing an ingrown toenail; if your nails are too long, they’re likely to snag on your sock or shoe and tear uncomfortably.

The best length to leave your nails is at 1-2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 of an inch) above where they attach to the toe.

Curving the edges

Some people think that curving the edges of the nail makes it look more attractive or keeps it from getting damaged, but you’re more prone to ingrown toenails if you round them.

Instead, cut your toenails straight across, preferably with two cuts. Make the first cut with the clippers slightly off the nail’s side to create a straight edge. Then make the second following that line all the way to the other side.

Trimming the cuticles

You may think that cutting or pushing back the cuticles may make the nail look more attractive, but it’s also bad for your foot health.

The cuticles protect the nail root, so when you trim or cut them, it’s easier for bacteria and fungi to enter the body and cause an infection. Nail infections can take a long time to heal.

Failing to moisturize the nails

You keep your hands and the soles of your feet moisturized, so why wouldn’t you moisturize the nails? Moisturizing after you’ve trimmed the nails helps to keep them flexible. This is particularly important when the air is dry, because dry nails split more easily and can cause a cut or a tear.

Want to learn more about how to trim your nails to ensure better foot health? Give PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic a call or schedule a consultation online with us today.

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Complications of an Ingrown Toenail

Most people have had an ingrown toenail at some point in their lives. Even though it’s a common problem, ingrown toenails can have complications that require medical care. Here’s what you need to know.

What You Should Know About Foot Care If You Have Diabetes

When you have diabetes, you have to watch your blood glucose levels. But you should also pay careful attention to your feet, because high blood sugar can cause serious foot problems. The following tips keep your feet healthy.

Does an Ingrown Toenail Require Medical Assistance?

If you have a painful ingrown toenail, you may wonder if it’s really doctor-worthy. Most ingrown toenails aren’t serious and resolve on their own. But in some cases, you need to see a podiatrist to avoid serious complications. Here’s how you know.

7 Shoe Mistakes You’re Making That Hurt Your Feet

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How to trim your toenails

It may seem like the easiest task, but clipping your toenails is a ritual that should be performed carefully, with special attention. Therefore, today we will talk about how to properly cut toenails .

You will be surprised, but most people cut their toenails the wrong way. And this is not at all encouraging, because the most common mistakes can lead to painful and quite serious consequences, such as ingrown nails , and various infections.

People with diabetes should be especially careful about the issue of shortening toenails in order to reduce the risk of future foot problems.

Preparation

Never use nail scissors to cut toenails, because the nails on our lower extremities are much thicker than on our hands, and ordinary scissors may simply not do the job, damaging the nails. Buy Better quality nail clippers .

Care should be taken to ensure that the two blades on the tool work with the same pressure to ensure a good, clean cut.

Hygiene is the key to a safe pedicure. If possible, wipe all toes with an alcohol solution before starting the procedure. I’m not talking about the importance of sterilizing tweezers, I think this is already clear.

It is possible to share nail clippers with other family members, but always check that they have been sterilized before each use. Otherwise, if one of the family members has a fungal infection, you will also become the owner of it.

Follow the technique

Choose a place with enough light. Sit on a chair or on the floor, holding the nail clippers in one hand and holding your leg with the other hand.

There is no need to pre-soak your feet in water. Toenails are so strong that it doesn’t really show up in their texture. In addition, trimming dry nails will give you a smoother and more even cut.

Starting with your thumb, cut your nails straight so that they are square and not curved at the edges. Their rounding can lead to ingrown toenails. It is at this stage that many people make a major mistake.

The only ones who are advised to cut their nails in a crooked cut are ballet dancers, as they often have to stand on their fingertips. But most often they turn to professionals for trimming toenails.

Do not cut your nails too short, as the skin under the nail can become damaged and inflamed.

Don’t hurt your cuticles. 🙂 If you want to give your toenails a nicer look, just use a cuticle stick and push it back a bit.

Use a nail file to smooth out the sharp ends. As with tweezers, clean the nail file before use.

Finish with moisturizing foot cream .

When you’re done, wash all of your tools in hot water to be free of nail particles and dirt.

Who should not trim their own toenails

• If you have a fairly ingrown toenail
• If you are obese, pregnant, or nearsighted enough to not be able to see your legs well.

• If your nails are particularly thick, which is common in older people, or if you experience pain while cutting your nails.
• Diabetics should also be especially careful, because an ingrown toenail can disrupt blood circulation and affect nerve endings. Cutting the skin around the nail can lead to infection and, in rare cases, ulcers or even gangrene.

How often to cut your toenails

Everyone’s nails grow at different rates, so there is no set schedule. Just make sure your legs aren’t too long and trim them before they rub against your shoes and hurt.

Clean, well-groomed and neatly trimmed nails symbolize healthy feet and comfortable walking. And that’s exactly what we need! 🙂 Be healthy and beautiful!

How to cut your toenails? — LadyWow

Contents

• Features
• Preparation
  • Tooling
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Who shouldn’t cut their own toenails?
• How often to cut?
• Video on article

A quality pedicure, which is carried out in accordance with all the rules, helps to acquire not only a beautiful appearance, but also to avoid many problems. That is why it is important to know how to properly cut your toenails. Improper cutting of the nail can cause damage to the integrity of nearby tissues, foci of suppuration, fungal infections, ingrown nails and many other problems.

Rules for cutting nails

Features

Despite the fact that for many, the procedure for cutting the nail plate seems to be everyday and not very significant, it has several important and significant nuances.

• First of all, you should definitely pay attention to the shape of the nail plates. Ideally, they should follow the shape of the fingertips. In theory, the correct, or standard, shape is called an arch – arched. Trimming arched nails is the easiest and safest way.
• It is very important to choose the right tools to cut nails without damage or injury.

There are many types of tools that can be used to trim your legs. It can be scissors, special tweezers or wire cutters.

Nail clippers

Manicure scissors are not recommended as tools. With their help, it is unlikely that it will be possible to properly and correctly cut the nails. Nail cutting is best done with flat tongs, the size of which does not exceed 12 centimeters.

Knisper is used for thick nail plates. These are special scissors made of high-strength steel, the ends of the scissors are rounded. With this tool, you can cut off ingrown nail plates.

Preparation

The preparation phase has a specific sequence:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Recondition instruments (even if the pedicure set is for individual use only).
3. If you need to cut fungal nail plates, you must wear gloves.
4. Wash feet before trimming.
5. If the plates are brittle, it is advisable to soften the plate with a warm bath before starting.

The bath will help soften nails and prevent the formation of cracks, and will simplify the process of trimming.

Foot bath

Treatment of instruments

For these purposes it is necessary to use a soapy solution, disinfectants. Metal objects should be immersed in a disinfectant solution for at least 10 minutes. Then rinse and dry. An oven can be used as a sterilizer.

Processing tools

This completes the preparatory phase. Before proceeding with the execution, it is worth studying the step-by-step instructions for execution.

Step-by-step instructions

It is not recommended to cut in one stroke. It is necessary to cut the nails gradually, that is, in several stages. You need to shape your nails with a nail file.

1. Place a towel or napkin on the floor. This will help you collect all the trimmed nails and throw them away.
2. The cut must be made in several stages, without going to the tips of the plate. You should not try to cut ingrown nails at the same time in one motion, as delamination or damage to nearby tissues is possible.
3. Cutting the root plate is not recommended. This will cause damage to soft tissues and can cause infection, pain. A small strip should always remain.
4. Use a nail file to give the desired shape. A buff may also come up. It is not necessary to cut dry trimmed nails often, as they will begin to exfoliate. They can be of various shapes: round, oval, or even rectangular. The form should not have pointed sections. You need to file them from the edges to the central part.
5. Dry feet with a towel or disposable towel.
6. Lubricate feet with moisturizer, oil, or wax. This will save the skin from drying out and delamination of the nail plates.

An antifungal cream or gel should be applied to a fungal nail before clipping. If necessary, cut ingrown nails, you can rub a softening or anti-inflammatory cream.

Who shouldn’t cut their own toenails?

There is a category of people who are not recommended to cut their own nails.

1. These are people who suffer from skin and fungal infections. With great care, it is necessary to carry out the procedure for infants.
2. It is generally not recommended for children under a month to cut their own shearing, as they have not yet formed a plate. After a month, surgical steel scissors with round edges should be used as a tool. If the baby was born already with long nails, they should be cut off after birth. Babies need to carry out the procedure in a dream or during a meal.

It is very important that little children have individual tools that no one else uses. Each time before use, scissors should be treated with chlorhexidine.

Baby nail clipping

Elderly people .

This category of people has a very thick nail plate and impaired blood flow. In this regard, it is required to select a special tool and conduct a thorough, optimal preparation. Before starting, be sure to make a warm bath or steaming compression lotions. In some cases, a long compress for 6-10 hours is required. In some cases, it is necessary to apply a special keratolic patch. It can be purchased at any pharmacy.

Nail cutting for the elderly

How often should I cut my nails?

There is no clear answer to this question, since each person’s nails grow at different rates.