Should I let my toenail fall off naturally?

But while damaged toenails sometimes fall off on their own, it's not a good idea to force that process. Removing a damaged toenail yourself could lead to serious complications that end up making matters worse.

Should I let my toenail fall off or pull it off?

Do not rip off the toenail or tear off the piece that is detaching. You can trim the nail straight across and leave the section that is falling off still on the toe until it falls off naturally. Once the nail falls off, you will need to protect the nail bed from infection.

Will a dead toenail fall off by itself?

Over time the damaged nail will fall off on its own and be replaced with a new pink healthy nail. On some occasions when the memory part known as the matrix is damaged the nail may grow back abnormal including slightly discoloured and thickened.

What should I do my toenail is falling off?

Protect any exposed part of the nail bed for 7 to 10 days until this skin hardens and isn't sensitive anymore. Coat the area with antibiotic ointment and top with a nonstick bandage. Change the bandage every day and whenever it gets wet. (If any part gets stuck, soak it under warm running water until it slips off.)

Should I remove my dead toenail?

Surgery and toenail removal may be necessary with an infection. If you have a difficult to treat fungal nail infection, or if you have a suppressed immune system or diabetes, your podiatrist may recommend removal of the affected toenail to prevent the infection from spreading to other toenails or beyond your feet.

What To Do if Your Toenail Falls Off

Can you live without a toenail?

“Toenails are like our appendix,” Krebsbach says. “They do serve a purpose, but we can live without them.”

When should a damaged toenail be removed?

What are some other conditions that might lead to toenail removal? Ingrown toenails: This gives your toes the chance to grow back in the right shape and direction. Toenail tumors: Nail removal is the best way to treat these tumors. Trauma to the nail: If your toenail has broken, it might be best to remove it.

Will a lost big toenail grow back?

If your toenail falls off, it'll usually grow back within a few months to a year. However, depending on the cause and the size of the lost toenail, it could take up to two years. Contact your doctor if your toenail won't stop bleeding or you have severe pain.

Why is my toenail lifting off my toe?

Onycholysis is when your nail separates from its nail bed. It often appears after an injury to your nail, but it may have other causes, including fungi. Treatment may only involve cutting away the separated nail as it grows out, or you may need to take antifungal medications or stop using certain nail products.

Can a toenail fall off and not grow back?

As long as there's nothing interfering with the nail-growing cells and this process, then you can and will grow new nail. But, if you dropped a bowling ball onto your foot or burnt your toes and have subsequently damaged the cells to the point that they can no longer grow new nail, then it may not grow back.

What happens if my whole toenail falls off?

Even if your toenail falls off, it will grow back within three to six months. However, getting treatment from your trusted podiatrist can help to protect your toe while your nail grows back and prevent further infection from developing.

How do you fix a natural lifted nail?

Treatments provided by a podiatrist include: Trimming the nail, filing any sharp edges and keeping the nail smooth. This will help prevent more trauma and damage to the nail. Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and cover the area with a non-stick bandage.

What does a lifted toenail look like?

The appearance of nail lifting may resemble a half-moon, or the free edge of the nail may rise up like a hood. Nail lifting creates space under the nail that gathers dirt and debris made of protein in the nails (keratin).

How do you treat a partially lifted toenail?

Use scissors to remove the detached part of the nail if the nail is partly attached. Soak your finger or toe in cold water for 20 minutes after trimming the nail. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and cover the area with a nonstick bandage.

What does a damaged nail bed look like?

Dark purple or black bruising to the fingertip or the nail bed known as a subungual hematoma. Separation of the nail from the nail bed referred to as onycholysis. Laceration through the nail, cuticle and/or nail bed. Deep grooves across the nail called Beau's lines that form months after initial injury.

How long does it take for a damaged big toenail to grow out?

The wound should heal within a few weeks. If completely removed, fingernails may take 6 months to grow back. Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back. Injured nails may look different when they grow back.

How can I speed up my toenail growth?

Can I remove my own toenail?

Removing an ingrown toenail is a simple, straightforward, and safe procedure … for a podiatrist who has been specially trained to perform it. Attempting to do so yourself, however, can be extremely dangerous.

How do I know if my toenail is permanently damaged?

If a damaged nail has not grown out normally after 12 months the damage is permanent. Nail plates grow forward from the germinal matrix which lies under the cuticle skin at the base of the nail called the eponychium.

Does removing toenail get rid of fungus?

Outright removing your toenails, however, is the absolute last resort option for treating toenail fungus, and only performed in very rare cases.

Is losing a toenail a big deal?

While a toenail falling off is usually not a major medical concern, it can be painful and annoying. In some cases, a damaged or detaching toenail may become infected, or it may be a sign of a more serious medical condition. A person can take steps at home to help ensure that the nail bed is kept clean and protected.

What does a healthy toenail bed look like?

Healthy fingernails and toenails should generally be pink - with the healthy nail plate being pink and the nail being white as it grows off the nail bed. Fingernail color and condition changes are rarely the first clues of serious illness.

Why did my big toenail fall off?

The two most common reasons for a toenail falling off are injuries and fungal infections. We'll start with injuries. Sometimes the precipitating cause is obvious—say you dropped a heavy book on your toe, or stubbed it on a sturdy table leg. However, more often small impacts over time are the principal problem.

How do you save a lifting toenail?

The easiest treatment is to have your podiatrist trim the excess nail and remove the lifted aspect. Podiatrists can also provide other medication recommendations to help treat the fungus.

Why is my big toenail separating from the nail bed?

Sometimes detached nails are associated with injury or infection. In other cases nail separation is a reaction to a particular drug or consumer product, such as nail hardeners or adhesives. Thyroid disease and psoriasis — a condition characterized by scaly patches on the skin — also can cause nail separation.