The arches of the feet facilitate comfortable weight-bearing movement when you stand or walk. Flat feet may occur due to either a congenital foot issue or a change in the structure of the foot when you move.

This video discusses treatment options for flat feet. Although flat feet cannot be cured, certain treatments can reduce pain and allow for comfortable movement. Arch supports inserted into your shoes keep the arch from collapsing. To create arch supports, your podiatrist will take careful measurements of your feet to ensure the right fit.

Do you suffer from flat feet or another condition that affects your ability to move comfortably? The qualified podiatrists at Family Foot Center of Whitestone can offer you the solutions you need to restore your quality of life. Click through our website or call (718) 767-5555 to find out more about our podiatry services.

Ingrown toenails can be extremely painful, and typically develop when the edges of the nail grow down and into the skin of the toe. In many cases, the skin along the edge of the nail will appear to grow over the nail, causing the skin to become swollen, firm, and red.  Continue reading to learn which steps you can take if you develop an ingrown toenail.

At-Home Treatment
There are several steps you can take to try to remedy the problem at home. Consider soaking your foot in warm water several times a day to soften the nail and make it easier to massage the area of inflamed skin. You may then place a small piece of cotton underneath the nail to help keep it from penetrating the skin and becoming worse. You may also consider trimming the nail after softening it in warm water, making sure not to pull out the ingrown portion of the nail yourself, but rather trimming the nail straight across. This is especially important as removing the section of nail that is ingrown may create additional problems in the future.

In-Office Treatments
When at-home remedies do not work, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist. Your foot doctor may offer a number of treatment options for ingrown toenails, including chemical, electrical, or surgical-based treatments. Each of these methods is designed to destroy or remove the ingrown section of the nail, so that a healthy, new nail can begin to grow. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics if the ingrown nail has led to an infection.

Prevention
In addition to trimming your nails straight across and avoiding rounded or tapered edges, there are other steps you can take to prevent the development of ingrown toenails. This includes wearing sandals or shoes with wide toe-boxes, keeping your feet clean and dry, and inspecting your feet on a regular basis.

Here at Family Foot Center, our podiatrists offer permanent correction of ingrown toenails, bunions, and hammer toes. You can learn more by calling (347) 625-5256 or by visiting us at our website.