| Since I have started dancing, my toenails have | | | | you do not have to take a pill to rid yourself of |
| taken a beating. I used to take pride in painting | | | | painful, ugly fungal toenails. What works best for |
| my nails a fiery red, or a bright pink just because | | | | our patients is an oil-soluble product called Formula |
| I wanted to, but covering up my gross nails | | | | 3, which goes beneath the nail plate and hits the |
| became a necessity, not a pleasure. | | | | fungus at the root. |
| Ask yourself a couple of questions regarding your | | | | Bruised toenails are painful and difficult to put into |
| toenails: | | | | point shoes. Everytime you go on point with a |
| 1. Have your toenails become thicker, and harder | | | | bruised toenail you feel like you are poking a |
| to cut since you began dancing? | | | | needle into your nail. As soon as you notice that |
| 2. Do you have spots in your toenails, bruised or | | | | your toenail is bruised, you should make an |
| not, that result from an injury? | | | | appointment with a podiatrist to relieve some of |
| 3. Have your toenails been stepped on or did your | | | | the pressure behind the nail. What he or she may |
| partner drop you on your point too aggressively? | | | | end up doing is drilling into the affected area so |
| Some of you may have any or all of these | | | | some blood may flow from it. Dancers with |
| problems and they are problems that may last | | | | ingrown toenails should also see a podiatrist |
| your entire dancing career if you do not take the | | | | immediately so the infection does not spread to |
| time to have them treated. | | | | other parts of the toe. Depending on the severity |
| First, you need to take care that you are cutting | | | | of the ingrown, your podiatrist will surgically |
| your nails properly. A proper toenail cut will be cut | | | | remove the portions that are infection and |
| straight across on the edges and then close to | | | | ingrown. This may require you to be off your |
| the quick in the middle. Dancers who do not follow | | | | feet for a short while, but you will not be |
| these instructions will find themselves suffering | | | | suffering from ingrowns or the infection. |
| from painful, infected ingrown toenails, which | | | | Remember that the best thing you can do to |
| require surgery to repair. | | | | prevent major toenail injuries from dancing is to |
| If you find that your nails have become | | | | cut your toenails properly and to be careful! Talk |
| increasingly difficult to cut because they are hard | | | | with your partner if he continues to drop you on |
| or brittle, you probably have toenail fungus. Take | | | | your points too hard, or speak with another |
| a look at your toenails. Do they appear yellowed, | | | | ballerina with consistently steps on your feet in a |
| or have white striped running across them? You | | | | sequence. Never do bathroom surgeries at home |
| probably have toenail fungus, which is a common | | | | as this will make the problem worse and you will |
| ailment for dancers, as they face nail injury on a | | | | have to spend more time away from your |
| daily basis. This is something that is treatable and | | | | passion: dancing! |