Ingrown toenails are proof that even seemingly minor foot problems can be very painful. Fortunately, following a few foot care tips and visiting your podiatrists at Total Foot and Ankle of Tampa Bay can help. The foot doctors treat ingrown toenails and other foot and ankle conditions at their Wesley Chapel, Riverview/Apollo Beach & Sun City Center, FL, offices.

4 Tips That Can Help You Avoid Ingrown Toenails

Avoiding ingrown toenails can be as simple as:

• Trying a New Cutting Technique: Do you round the edges of your toenails when you cut them? Unfortunately, rounding the nails makes it easier for them to grow into the skin. Cutting your nails straight across can help you decrease your risk of ingrown toenails.
• Buying New Shoes: If ingrown toenails are a frequent problem, the shoes you wear may be to blame. Tight shoes press against your nails, driving them into your skin. Choose shoes that don't constrict the front part of your foot and offer plenty of room to wiggle your toes.
• Changing Your Sweaty Socks: Sweat softens your nails, easing their entry into the skin at the sides of your nails. If your feet tend to be sweaty, spray them with footpowder before you put your shoes on in the morning and swap your sweaty socks for a fresh pair mid-way through the day.
• Keep Toenail Fungus Under Control: Fungus thickens nails, increasing the likelihood that they'll become ingrown. If over-the-counter anti-fungal medications don't help, your Wesley Chapel, Riverview/Apollo Beach & Sun City Center, FL, foot doctor can offer more effective treatment options.

Don't suffer needlessly if you have an ingrown toenail. Call the podiatrist if you can't free your nail, you have severe pain, you experience ingrown toenails often, or your toe looks infected. Signs of infection may include pain, red streaks, or pus on your toe. Your foot doctor can remove the trapped portion of your nail after numbing your toe with a local anesthetic. If you have an infection, you may also need to take antibiotics.

Do you have an ingrown toenail? A visit to Total Foot and Ankle of Tampa Bay can ease your pain. Schedule an appointment with the podiatrist by calling today.

• Zephyrhills, FL, by calling (813) 788-3600
• Sun City Center, FL, by calling (813) 633-5900
• Wesley Chapel, FL, by calling (813) 788-3600
• Apollo Beach/Riverview, FL, by calling (813) 633-5900
• Valrico/Bloomingdale, FL, by calling (813) 633-5900