I've have an issue with my natural nails where they curl inwards at the tips and make the nails look wide at the base and then narrow at the end. This results in what is known as an “ingrown toenail”; because it’s growth is directed towards the skin rather than outside in a straight line, effectively embedding itself inside it. Respiratory Health Issues. The elderly and women who are pregnant also pose a higher risk for pincer nails because they may find it difficult bending over to file their nails at a correct angle. Make sure you do not cut or file your nail too short, but to leave a little white showing past your nail bed. Repeat steps 1 through 4 every week to prevent your nail from becoming curved again. Ingrown, curved, deformed toenails--onychogryposis--accounts for 20 percent of patients seeking family medical attention for a foot problem 1.The curved nail punctures and digs into the skin at the sides of the nail, introducing bacterial infection and inflammation. Previous Next 2 of 7 Nail clubbing. A curved toenail or a pincer nail is a condition where the sides of the toe nail curve inwards causing it to dig into the skin surrounding it. Pincer nails are more common in the elderly, as factors such as diabetes, liver problems, and medication can affect the growth and health of a nail. Down curved fingernails can suggest an issue with breathing health, and are often present in individuals who have medical conditions such as COPD, chronic bronchitis, asthma and lung cancer.Fingernails frequently curve downwards as an outcome of lack of oxygen. For example, ice pick-like depressions in the nails (nail pitting) are common in people who have psoriasis — a condition characterized by scaly patches on the skin. Fingernails Curling: Causes and What You Can Do Why Do My Fingernails Curl? 1. ASK ANA: Curved Nails Can I Change My C-Curve?ASK ANA “Hi Ana, I’ve done a lot of googling but I can’t find much reference at all to whether one can improve a flatish c-curve on natural nails – most people seem to have the opposite problem. Most of my nails are quite wide and fla t, but not spooned or  anything. Nail clubbing is sometimes the result of low oxygen in the blood and could be a sign of various types of lung disease. Nail pitting can also be related to connective tissue disorders, such as Reiter's syndrome, and alopecia areata — an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. Nail clubbing occurs when the tips of the fingers enlarge and the nails curve around the fingertips, usually over the course of years. Use your nail file and nail clippers to carefully re-shape your curved toenail to form a straight line across your toe.