FOX Carolina 21High heels can bring on ingrown toenails
21.05.12
TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- High heels and other snug-fitting or pointed shoes are a leading cause of ingrown toenails, according to podiatrists.
By putting constant pressure on the toes, the big toenails can grow into the skin and cause an infection, the experts at Loyola University Health System said, yet many women are unwilling to trade in their heels for more practical shoes.
"Ingrown toenails can be painful, but many women are willing to cope with the discomfort in order to continue wearing their high heels," Rodney Stuck, a professor of podiatry medicine, said in a university news release. "However, more serious complications can arise and cause permanent damage to the toenails, if they are left untreated."
Stuck advised women who wear heels to take the following steps to prevent ingrown toenails:
- Trace each foot on cardboard and cut it out. Be sure the cutouts fit into a new pair of shoes before buying them to ensure they are not too narrow.
Source: WHNS Greenville