Cutting a “V” Does Not Cure Ingrown Toenails: MD Podiatrist

You might have heard that cutting a notch in the center of your toenail will temper the tendency for the nail to curve downward and dig into your skin. But does this method really minimize or heal ingrown toenails? The answer is an unequivocal “no”. “The nail grows from the base (cuticle area) forward, so cutting a ‘v’ in the tip of the nail has no impact on growth,” says Daniel Michaels, DPM.

 
“If it is a chronic, painful incurvated/ingrown nail, the best remedy is an in-office surgical procedure where the offending nail border is removed.”