DO not underestimate the agony of trying to walk while a poorly clipped nail is slicing into the swollen, suppurating flesh of your big toe.

       Even the weight of a light blanket on an ingrown toenail can cause so much pain that it can be difficult to sleep.

       The thing is, avoiding this ordeal is surprisingly easy.

       You just need to use the right technique when clipping your nails.

       The most important rule: Never, ever round off the corners of your big toenail.

       It might be tempting to trim back the pointy edges of the nail, perhaps even aesthetically pleasing to some.

       And yet this is the very mistake that sends people to a podiatrist with a swollen toe.

       It’s also important to leave your big toenail long enough so that enough of the nail’s corners are still lying freely on top of the skin.

       The corners should be left long so that they don’t dig into the skin on the sides.

       While this rule applies to all nails, it’s most important for your big toe.

       In general, it’s best to avoid filing or clipping nails too short and rounding any edges. Shoes that are too tight and sweaty feet can also promote nail ingrowth.

       There are some people who are more susceptible to ingrown toenails, such as those who are overweight or have diabetes or diseases that can lead to water retention. Cancer patients are also more likely to have problems with ingrown nails.

       When the nail grows into the skin of the toe, the affected area becomes inflamed and painful.

       But there is one simple remedy, provided that the inflammation has not gone too far.

       Soak the foot in soapy water, then apply some anti-inflammatory gel, ointment or tincture, according to experts from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.

       The most important thing is to make sure you dry your foot thoroughly after soaking it.

       Rather than wearing tight shoes that press on the painful area, open shoes are a much better idea.

       And at night, make sure no heavy bedclothes are resting on the inflamed toe.

       In more serious cases, a medical assistant trained in foot care can apply a bandage or a nail clamp.

       If none of this brings any improvement, the problem should be examined by a doctor.

       This is especially true if the nail has festered and become very inflamed.

       The inflammation can spread and develop into phlegmon – a bacterial skin inflammation.

       A visit to the family doctor’s office is also advisable if the ingrown nail is accompanied by fever and exhaustion. — dpa