(Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails.). All rights reserved. Clinical features can include the following signs. If the entire nail is detached from the finger or toe, there is nothing that can be done to repair, reattach, or replace it. When the toenail begins to fall off, a person may be advised to seek medical attention. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology. Onycholysis affects everybody. In extreme cases, a person may require surgery to remove the nail and stop it from growing back. Learn more about some specific conditions that require medical attention, including surgery. Habif TP. Symptoms of a fungal toenail infection include: If you have athletes foot, it can turn into a fungal toenail infection. Your symptoms dont improve after treatment. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Biting or chewing the nails is a common cause. Wear well-fitting sandals if closed-toe shoes hurt. Youll need to wait for the new nail to grow back in its place. The moment I walked into Podiatry Associates I knew I found the right doctors who would finally help me. (2014). Before attempting to remove part or all of the toenail, clean the toe with warm, soapy water. This can produce a very painful problem that can be quickly relieved when a doctor drills a tiny hole in the nail plate to immediately relieve the pressure of the accumulated blood. "Surgical Treatment of Acute Fingernail Injuries. A fingernail or toenail can be injured by a blow to the nail or by closing the finger or toe in a door or drawer. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel for no more than 20 minutes every 3 to 6 hours as needed. The non-adhering portion of the nail should be removed. Learn more about how to fix an ingrown fingernail. Take good care of toes by making. If symptoms do not improve, they should seek further treatment. Sometimes, paronychia caused by yeast can last for 6 weeks or more. A fungal infection, an allergy to a nail product ingredient, psoriasis, and diseases that cause poor circulation, such as Raynaud's, can lead to your toenail breaking off or crumbling. Constant pressure, like a hammertoe that rubs against the inside of your shoe, can lead to a detached toenail. While it often appears on the skin, it can affect the toenails as well. If it can be tolerated, the best way to treat it is to soak the area in cold water for 15 minutes, clean the area with betadine or an alcohol swab, apply antibiotic cream, and trim straight across . Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? 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. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria cause staph infections. Dry it well before continuing. It can cause pain and discomfort, especially if left untreated. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Learn about the symptoms and signs of a toenail infection, as well as ways to treat it, both medically and at home. Nails also can be accidentally torn or split, or a splinter can get under the nail. The following tips can help you take care of your nails if you have onycholysis: While essential oils are safe for most people, its a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before trying them. Appointments 216.444.5725 Oral antifungal drugs are usually much more effective than over-the-counter topical treatments. ", Fairview Health Services: "Patient information: Detached Fingernail or Toenail. Use a clean washcloth to help reach beneath your nails. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. It is important to keep the hands dry and clean throughout. Oral thrush is usually treated with antifungal medications, but home remedies can. Individuals claim that a person can cure the infection by cutting a slit in a lemon and sprinkling salt into the hole before placing the affected finger in the lemon for a few minutes. If there is any damage to adjacent tissues, the nail bed, the nail matrix, or the proximal nail fold that could result in scarring, this should be assessed by a physician and repaired if appropriate. Sometimes detached nails are associated with injury or infection. Nails also can be accidentally torn or split, or a splinter can get under the nail. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? What Is the Prognosis for a Torn or Detached Nail? Sometimes they take longer to develop. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. In rare cases, you may need to have the rest of your toenail removed. Keep your toe clean and check it periodically for infection. What Are Complications of a Torn or Detached Nail? When things that are supposed to remain attached suddenly fall off, it can cause a bit of panic. Acute and chronic paronychia. Once the nail starts to pull away from your toe, you do risk it catching and tearing away, which can be quite uncomfortable and increase your odds for infections. They will obtain a clipping of the nail or take a swab of the infected area and test for the presence of specific bacteria or fungi. A person can prevent toenail fungus by: Injuries are a common cause of a toenail falling off. (2020). More significant defects can result in a permanently deformed nail. If you stop too soon, the fungus that caused your onycholysis may come back and be harder to treat. But while damaged toenails sometimes fall off on their own, its not a good idea to force that process. Pus that builds up under the skin. Protect your nails from any additional damage. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Bird Flu Deaths Prompt U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry, COVID Treatment in Development Appears Promising, Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check, Getting Outdoors Might Help You Take Fewer Meds, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. 9397 Crown Crest Blvd., Suite 311 Other bacteria (such as Streptococcus pyogenes) can also cause the infection. However, in the first instance, they may start treatment on the toenail by: If the underlying cause is not treated, it can prevent the nail from growing back properly, or at all. Be sure to follow your providers instructions and finish the entire course of antibiotics so the infection doesnt return. The uncovered nail bed can be covered with petroleum jelly or neomycin ointment and dressed with a clean bandage. A person can start to treat psoriasis by soaking the nail in warm water. Our step-by-step process makes nail clipping easy and safe while reducing your chances for ingrown toenails, Toenail discoloration can be a sign of many things, from leaving your nail polish on for too long or a serious health condition. Ice your toe for 20 minutes every 2 hours. The pressure it creates can loosen and push the nail off. If you see signs of an infection, visit a healthcare professional right away. Longer nails are more likely to become damaged because they can be levered off the nail bed or run into the end of an athletic shoe. You will need to keep it taped for about a month. Removing the Toenail 1 Wash the area around your toe. People can treat mild cases at home. Another thing your doctor could do is relieve pressure from blood pooling under the nail. The tests may include: There isnt a cure for the section of your nail thats detached from the nail bed you cant reattach it. privacy practices. Autoimmune diseases that affect the nails, like psoriasis, can detach the keratin as well. When to See a Doctor for a Torn or Detached Nail. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544307/), (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/nail-disorders/acute-paronychia). Treatments for paronychia will vary according to the severity and whether it is acute or chronic. One can happen when you accidentally stub your toe or drop something heavy on your foot. The tear is too far down for you to trim. Keeping your nails short will prevent them from catching on objects and pulling further off of your nail beds. Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 2014 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. However, fungal infections can sometimes cause onycholysis. Once clipped, the remaining nail should be smoothed out with a file. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. A look at nail fungal infection, including who is at risk, common causes, effective treatments, and the symptoms. Chirila, F. Catalano, and S. Artiaco. Crucially, there could be more damage to your toe than is visible to the naked eye. Haneke E. Nail Disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019. A detached toenail is a common condition, but it can be painful. If you attempt to remove a toenail yourself or if it falls off, you should still visit with your doctor to check for infection and proper healing. Your doctor will provide instructions on how to change bandages, wash, and care for your toe. Even minor injuries can have this impact. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of Here's what to do if that happens, and when you should see a doctor. Paronychia (nail infection) usually results from bacteria. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. A nail avulsion occurs when a portion of the nail is lifted off the nail bed or is sticking out of the skin at the base of the nail (the cuticle). Podiatry Today: "How To Address Nail Bed Injuries. Toenails detach for your nail bed for a number of reasons. Wear gloves when doing activities that may damage your nails, like washing the dishes, playing sports or working outside. 1. Mild paronychia may be treatable with just a lemon and salt. Depending on the cause of the damaged toenail, you may not want it to grow back. You can lower your risk of recurrence by: In the case of repeated fungal infections or painful ingrown toenails, the toenail may have to be removed again. Much depends on the reason for the damaged toenail, whether your toe was also injured, and whether there was infection. You can reduce your risk of losing a toenail in the future by keeping your feet clean and your toenails smooth and short. Accessed Nov. 19, 2017. Acute paronychia develops quickly and treatment can reduce symptoms rapidly. You can protect your hands and avoid an infection by wearing waterproof gloves that do not irritate the skin. If the nail has cracked off from side to side -- without leaving a rough edge -- you can skip the trimming. When psoriasis appears under the nail, it is often mild and causes minimal issues. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Once you get an examination, the actual toenail removal procedure only takes 15 to 20 minutes and can be performed in a doctors office. Severe, chronic paronychia most often affects people who have diabetes or conditions that cause problems with blood circulation. If only part of a toenail has fallen off, it is essential to leave the remaining part of the nail in place. Suddenly injuring your digit can cause a separation as well. If your toenail is falling off or has separated from the nail bed, it's important to keep the area clean and covered to prevent infection. Untreated, the nail can start to grow abnormally and may have ridges or waves. If you have onycholysis due to injuries or fungal infections, you may experience pain and irritation. Soaking the cuticle and nailbed helps pus drain from under the skin. Depending on the cause and how much, if any, of your toenail remains, you might need additional treatment to make sure your toenail grows back properly. 2. Wash your hands regularly to prevent an infection. Other symptoms directly affect the nail itself. Getting the right treatment promptly can help your nail grow back normally. If only part of your toenail has fallen off, dont try to remove the rest of it. Onychia is an infection of the nail itself, which causes inflammation of the nail and swelling of the surrounding tissue. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Notify me of follow-up comments via email. other information we have about you. These topical medications typically include clotrimazole or ketoconazole. Now, if a fungal infection or a problem like psoriasis are damaging your hard keratin, youll need to address those problems first. As you age, your nails become dry. If you have diabetes or another condition that affects your circulation, or are immunosuppressed, call your provider as soon as you notice signs of infection. In: Suneja M, Szot JF, LeBlond RF, et al., eds. It can take a few days to several weeks for full recovery. Last medically reviewed on December 16, 2021. You should keep the area clean and replace the bandage when necessary. However, other types of infections and skin conditions can also cause the toenail to break off. Sometimes detached nails are associated with injury or infection. As the nail is still attached avoid taking off yourself as it will be painful. 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. Signs of infection can include: Fungal infections that do not resolve at home should be seen by a doctor to get appropriate treatment. Ask your doctor about the procedure to destroy the nail matrix and permanently prevent the nail from regrowing. Rich P, et al. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. An ingrown toenail can usually be treated at home. Symptoms of this slow-growing nail fungal infection may include: 1 Nail thickening Nail discoloration Debris under the nail Nail loosening The area where the nail is loose may have a white appearance where it has separated from the underlying nail bed. People can reduce their risk of developing nail infections by: Some people have a higher risk of developing paronychia, such as: In most cases, a doctor can easily diagnose paronychia with a physical examination. A white to yellow, pus-filled abscess may form. Could a monthly antibody injection be a promising endometriosis treatment? So, technically, the nails on your toes are already dead, which is why it doesnt hurt when you trim your nails. Capsulitis is a painful condition affecting the ball of the foot and toes. As blood builds up under your nail, it may separate from your nail bed. In this article, we discuss what to do when a toenail is falling off. 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Treatment can reduce symptoms rapidly get appropriate treatment pressure, like a hammertoe that rubs against the of... That rubs against the inside of your nail grow back to fix an ingrown toenail can be.