Why Trimming Your Toenails Is Critical For Foot Health

Let’s face it: Cutting our toenails is not high on anyone’s list of enjoyable things to do. But it’s an essential task that, if neglected, can contribute to serious conditions such as infections, ingrown toenails, and even loss of balance. As our podiatrist at Mark Costopoulos, DPM can attest, many seniors may be unable to cut their own toenails because of limited dexterity or flexibility, low vision, or other health conditions.

Today we’d like to present some facts from the American Podiatric Medical Association about why visiting our podiatrist for a professional trimming is not only recommended, but crucial: 

• Toenails that are untrimmed or have been improperly trimmed can become ingrown, which causes pain, inflammation, and can potentially lead to a serious infection. Our podiatrist has the expertise to trim toenails safely and painlessly to prevent them from becoming ingrown.
• During a professional trimming, our podiatrist uses sterile techniques and proper tools to minimize the risk of infection. Avoiding infections is especially important for people who have diabetes or another circulatory impairment. 
• Toenails that are untrimmed or long can increase the risk of tripping and falling, especially for seniors. Regular toenail care provided by our podiatrist can help reduce the likelihood of falling and suffering an injury.
• During a routine toenail trimming visit, our podiatrist will also examine your feet and assess their overall health, checking for signs of fungal infections, diabetes, or problems with circulation. Detecting and treating these conditions early can prevent them from becoming more serious.
• Our podiatrist will also be on the lookout for foot conditions such as corns, calluses and plantar fasciitis.

If you have delayed caring for your toenails because doing so has become too difficult, the podiatrist at Mark Costopoulos, DPM urges you to let us provide this service that’s so critical. We promise that you’ll walk out in comfort and in good health! Please contact us today for an appointment.