Busting Common Toenail Myths

There’s always plenty of speculation about what is and isn’t good for your body, and toenails are no exception. The podiatrists at Triad Foot and Ankle Center did a little digging to uncover the most common toenail myths and bust them for you. Because you deserve to live your best life, and so do your toenails.

• Cold water isn’t good for your nails.  For those who think that cold water will dry out your toenails, think again. According to the experts at Triad Foot and Ankle, there’s no difference between using warm and cold water when washing your feet. Warm water may feel a little more comfortable in a bath or during a pedicure, but in terms of drying out the nail, there’s no difference.

The doctors at Triad Foot and Ankle actually recommend frequently hydrating your toenails by soaking them –especially if you’re going in for a pedicure. Neglecting to hydrate your nails leads to keratin granulations (AKA the white spots under your nails).

• Filing your toenails in one direction is better for their growth. The direction in which you file your nails, whether on your toes or fingers, makes no difference, according to the doctors at Triad Foot and Ankle. Certain factors like filing pressure or the type of file used can cause damage to the skin around your toes, so podiatrists recommend using light pressure. Toenail shape can also affect the growth of your nail. Toenails should always be cut straight with the corners rounded to prevent ingrown toenails.
• You should allow your toenails to breathe. Although going barefoot in the summertime is fun, it makes no difference in the health of your toenails. Due to the fact that like your hair, most of your nail plate isn’t living, they don’t need to receive oxygen supply from the air. Toenails receive most of their oxygen from blood circulation.
• The white spots on your toenails are always a result of a calcium deficiency. Remember when we mentioned keratin granulations earlier? Keratin granulations develop due to your nails drying out. While sometimes white spots develop on your fingernails and toenails from lack of calcium, a deficiency isn’t always the culprit. Sometimes, you just need to give your toenails a trip to the hydration station.

For more information on how the experts at Triad Foot and Ankle Center can help your feet live their best lives, request to make an appointment at one of our Triad-based offices.

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