“If people don’t trim their nails often enough, ingrown nails can become a problem,” warns Tarr. “As toenails becomes very long, they tend to curl and will grow into the skin.” Ouch.
Pinker notes that walking can become painful if you don’t keep up with toenail trimming, increasing the possibility of trips and falls. As to ingrown toenails, he says that severe cases may require antibiotics. “If the toenails are infected with fungus, mold, or yeast, and they are not trimmed regularly, the infection may spread and lead to athlete’s foot fungus, and possibly cellulitis.”