Are you prone to getting ingrown toenails? Our advice could help you stop them for good.

If you’ve had an ingrown toenail before, or if you’re dealing with one now, then you know just how painful and annoying they can be. Did you know that there are things you can do to prevent ingrown toenails from happening in the first place? If you’d like to keep future ingrown toenails at bay, your Carmel, and Indianapolis, IN, podiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Agricola can provide you with helpful tips to keep your feet healthy and ingrown toenail-free.

Know How to Trim Your Toenails

You may not put much thought into how you trim your toenails so you probably don’t think about it or realize you could be doing it wrong. The next time you trim your nails make sure to trim them straight across.

While you might like the curved look, this can increase the risk of an ingrown toenail. You also want to make sure not to trim your toenails too short. They should be level with the tips of your toes. Do this, and you may find yourself dealing with fewer ingrown toenails.

Wear Properly Fitted Shoes and Socks

Your Carmel, and Indianapolis, IN, podiatrist will tell you, nothing is more important than finding shoes that properly fit your feet. Regardless of whether you’re prone to ingrown toenails or not, you should have a shoe specialist measure your feet and fit you with shoes so that you know that you’re wearing the proper footwear to protect your feet. Shoes that are too tight, as well as socks, can put too much pressure on the toenails and lead to ingrown toenails.

Protect Your Feet From Injury

If you work on a construction site or you play sports, your feet are more susceptible to injuries. To protect falling objects from injuring the toenail or to keep from stubbing your toe, you should wear steel-toed shoes if you work on construction sites or around heavy machinery. If you play sports, make sure that you are wearing the ideal athletic footwear for your chosen sport.

Your podiatrist, Dr. Agricola, serves the Carmel, and Indianapolis, IN, areas. If you are looking for a podiatrist to treat your ingrown toenails, plantar fasciitis, or fungal nail infection, we offer a full range of treatments and services. To schedule an appointment at Prestige Podiatry, simply call (317) 846-4111 or (317) 881-0070.