Podiatrist Alejandro Martinez has warned that three common mistakes people make while trimming their toenails can lead to serious health problems. Speaking in an interview with the Spanish news outlet El Confidencial, Martinez explained that improper cutting techniques frequently cause avoidable foot issues.
The first major error identified by Martinez is rounding the edges of toenails. Although rounded nails may look neater, Martinez warned that this shape significantly increases the risk of an ingrown nail, a condition that causes pain, redness, and swelling in the affected toe.
Podiatrists are specialized healthcare providers who diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders of the foot and lower limb. An ingrown toenail, known medically as onychocryptosis, occurs when the edge of the nail plate pierces the skin of the nail fold, triggering inflammation and pain. Trimming nails straight across is standard medical advice to keep the nail edges resting above the surrounding tissue.
Choosing the right tools for toenail care
The second mistake highlighted by Martinez is using curved nail clippers. Instead of clippers with curved jaws, the podiatrist advised buying straight-blade scissors, which allow individuals to maintain better control over the trajectory of each cut.
The third mistake occurs after removing the main part of the nail, when people leave two small corners at the edges. According to Martinez, these remaining fragments must be filed down using a nail file, but should under no circumstances be cut away using scissors.
El Confidencial is a major digital newspaper based in Madrid, Spain, covering health, wellness, and current affairs. Proper foot hygiene and tool maintenance are key components of routine personal care, helping prevent minor skin tears and secondary bacterial infections around the toes.
Nail appearance and nutritional health
Beyond trimming practices, health professionals have also pointed out how internal health factors manifest in nail appearance. Podiatrist Darya Rushantseva previously identified several underlying diseases that directly affect the physical condition of nails.
Rushantseva linked the peeling and splitting of nails to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins such as biotin and minerals like iron and zinc play a key role in keratin synthesis, the structural protein that forms human nails.
