How to Prevent Bruised Toenails

A bruised toenail not only looks unsightly, but it can be very painful. A bruise under or around a nail can cause long term damage and deformity to a toenail. Follow these steps to prevent your toenails becoming bruised.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good fitting shoes

1. Wear shoes that fit well. This may seem simple, but poor fitting shoes are the most common cause of bruised toenails. Loose or tight shoes increase the pressure on the toenails.

2. Make sure that you can wiggle your toes in your shoes and that there is a thumb width of space between the end of your toes and the front of the shoe.

3. Have your feet measured in a specialist shoe store if you have any foot problems such as bunions, wide feet or narrow feet. These stores have a variety of sizes and styles to accommodate "difficult to fit" feet.

4. Avoid slip on shoes as the toes will curl up to hold the shoe on the foot and the toenails may become bruised. A strap or a lace will hold the shoe on the foot and allows the toes to relax.

5. Tie laces firmly and do not slip sneakers off without untying the laces first. Laces hold the foot in the correct position. If they are loosely tied, your toes will hit the end of the shoe with each step and become bruised.

6. Remember that tight socks or thick stitching across the toes can be enough to cause bruising of the toenails.

7. Leave your high heels for special occasions. If you have to wear them for work, travel to work in your sneakers and put your heels on when you reach work.

Tips & Warnings

• Take orthotics or specialized hosiery with you when buying new shoes to ensure sure they can be accommodated in your shoes.
• If you have repeated toenail bruising and are unsure of the cause, seek the advice of your Podiatrist.