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Ingrown Toenails and Corns: Safe Foot Care with Home Podiatry
Why ingrown toenails and corns develop, how to prevent them and why you should never use a blade at home. Podiatry care methods and why they matter for older people and diabetics.
Contents
Our feet carry our whole body weight all day, yet we notice them only when they hurt. Ingrown toenails and corns are very common and make walking difficult. In older people, people with diabetes and those with poor circulation, they also carry a risk of infection and wounds.
Ingrown toenails
The nail edge grows into the surrounding skin, most often on the big toe.
Causes: cutting nails with rounded corners or too short, tight pointed shoes, trauma, curved nails and poor hygiene.
Signs: pain, redness and swelling at the nail edge, later discharge and overgrown pink tissue.
Corns and calluses
| Type | Appearance | Common site |
|---|---|---|
| Callus | Broad flat thickening | Sole, heel |
| Hard corn | Painful with a hard core | Tops of toes |
| Soft corn | Moist, whitish | Between toes |
Why not use a blade at home?
Cutting corns or digging into an ingrown nail can cause infection, deep unnoticed wounds in people with diabetes, and worse ingrowth later. Acid corn plasters can burn healthy skin and should not be used by diabetics.
What podiatry care involves
- Assessment of foot structure, pressure points, nails and skin.
- Correct cutting and filing; relieving the ingrown area.
- Nail correction braces in suitable cases.
- Reducing thickened skin with sterile instruments.
- Pressure relief with silicone protectors, pads and insoles.
- Education on nail cutting, footwear and daily care.
Infected or severely ingrown nails and diabetic foot ulcers need a doctor; the podiatrist refers in these cases.
Prevention at home
Cut nails straight across, not too short; wash and dry feet daily, especially between the toes; moisturise the soles but not between toes; choose wide, soft, well-fitting shoes; wear seamless cotton socks; diabetics should check feet daily with a mirror.
We offer home podiatry for older people, diabetics and people with limited mobility across Yalova, with appointments in Bursa, Istanbul and Kocaeli–Gebze.
