Inlaid armor VS coiled armor

Ingrown toenails and curled toenails are common toenail problems and are often confused, but their nature, symptoms and treatments are significantly different. Understanding the differences can help with early prevention and proper care.

Ingrown nails (also known as frostbite) are abnormal growths at the edge of the nail that penetrate the surrounding skin and soft tissue, causing redness, swelling, pain, and even paronychia. They are often caused by improper trimming or tight shoes.
Ingrown toenails are mostly caused by acquired factors, such as cutting them too short with rounded corners, wearing narrow shoes that compress the nails, or sweaty, damp feet.

Preventing ingrown toenails relies on straight nail trimming and wearing loose, breathable shoes.

Pincer nails are nails that curve excessively inward into a C-shape, U-shape, or tubular shape, with the edges clamping down on the flesh like clamps. They may be painless but are prone to developing into ingrown toenails. Both can occur simultaneously. Pincer nails are often a precursor to ingrown toenails, but the key to ingrown toenails is "the pain of embedding," while the key to pincer nails is "overall deformation."

Half of those with curled nails are born with it, while others develop it due to onychomycosis or aging, which exacerbates nail hardening and curvature.
For curled nails, an orthotic device or laser adjustment of the curvature is needed to prevent further embedding.