Change the cotton insert daily until the nail has grown past the trouble spot. V is not for victory. Whatever you do, says podiatrist Glenn Copeland, D.P.M., of Women's College Hospital in Toronto, don't fall for that old wives' tale about cutting a V-shaped wedge out of the center of the nail. People think that an ingrown nail is too big and that if you take a wedge from the middle, the sides will grow toward the center and away from the ingrown edge. That's utter nonsense.
All nails grow from back to front only.
Let your toes breathe. Simply put, ill-fitting footwear can cause an ingrown nail, especially if your nails tend to curve. That's why you should avoid pointed or tight shoes that press on toenails, says Dr. Levine. Opt instead for sandals where appropriate, or wide-toed shoes. If necessary, she says, modify offending shoes by cutting out the portion that presses on your toe.