Getting your first pair of pointe shoes is exciting and fun, but they come with responsibility. Taking care of your feet is very important for dancers, especially those on pointe. Make sure when cutting nails, cut close to the quick in the center, then straight across out to the edges. Properly fitting pointe shoes is also very important to maintaining healthy feet. When purchasing your shoes ensure the man or woman doing the fitting knows their stuff.
Bruised toenails are a common ailment for ballet dancers en pointe. The bruise is a result of constant pressure on your toenail and are especially common if you do not replace your pointe shoes when their number is up. A bruised toenail is typically black and very unattractive. If you do not experience pain, treatment may not be necessary. A new toenail will replace the old as the bruised skin beneath begins to heal. Try to avoid pulling off the nail and let the loss occur on its own.
If you experience significant pain, your doctor can make a small hole in the nail to release the pressure behind the nail. If you experience severe redness or swelling, see your podiatrist. Dancing en pointe is fun and exciting, but can be very painful if the dancer does not take proper care of her feet. Remember to cut your nails properly, have properly fitting pointe shoes, and replace your shoes when they begin to soften.
