I feel for you, Cate. I have had this problem since I was a child. I even had mild surgical intervention done by a podiatrist that involved removal of the side portions of both toenails, with acid put into the nail bed to destroy regrowth of the nail in that area. Unfortunately, my nails grew right back in there so now I have a split running up the sides of both toe nails. Grrr.....

I will probably have it redone next summer. I was told that while there is a standard amount of acid typically used, some people require more than that amount. My luck.

I've learned that the shape of your nails is the biggest contributing factor. My finger and toe nails are very curved if you look at them head-on. The upside to this is that I get a lot of compliments on my nails after a manicure but I deal with ingrown toe nails continually. I find that if I have a pedicure, the polish seems to add even more thickness to my already thick nails. As a result, I have more problems with ingrown toe nails in the summer months if I leave the polish on too long and don't keep them trimmed.

I know that proper trimming techniques is emphasized (they should be cut straight across) but that tip doesn't help me at all. (It used to be thought that ingrown toe nails were caused primarily by improper trimming but that's no longer thought to be a factor as much as the shape of the nail itself.)

I also keep my toenails really clean so they don't become infected.

Here's what I do when they start to hurt: I tear off a small corner of a cotton eye makeup remover pad, soak it in hydrogen peroxide, and then with a nail file, I lift the up the nail corner that hurts and pack the cotton under that area to relieve the pressure. This helps prevent them from becoming infected, too, and straightens out the curve of the nail.....for a while.

Simply put, it's no fun at all.

Cate,
You can go to Sally's and pick up an ingrown nail file. They are VERY thin at the edges. You use this as a file along the sides of your toenails.
I use this implement on many clients. For those who are sensitive, it is an adjustment, but in the long run, it is an awesome way to help those ingrowns.
Cutting across straight is just an old fashioned way that some thought was the answer. It is not for many. If you have a deep C curve to the nails, then it does not matter how they are cut/filed. Some people used to put a V in the middle of the nail? ????? That does nothing but put runs in your stockings if you wear them or scratch your partners leg in bed!!
If you want to see what this looks like, go here:
http://www.tweezerman.com/index.cfm?page=productdetail&prod=183
Let me know how you make out.
buenos dias,
Lynnette

Thanks for the tip on the ingrown nail file Lynnette! I get ingrowns frequently. I've done the hydrogen peroxide with a bandaid during the day & pry a little bit each night under the nail, but that is sooo painful, and it takes forever to get that nail growing correctly again!

So Lynnette, Fitness Brain and Cate are all in SE Pennsylvania? My parents live there so I'm there on a regular basis. We should have a little get-together and talk about, oh I don't know, cars or electronics or something we all find interesting. I'm sure we'll think of something...

I actually will wear my toenails long on my big toe to prevent ingrown toenails. The tips of the nail extend past the toe. I've ruined a few cheap socks with long nails, but it beats the ingrown toenail anyday. I am very prone to them, too, and this is really the only solution that works for me.