Should I go to the doctor for a ripped off toenail?
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Should I go to the doctor for a ripped off toenail?
If you aren’t comfortable tending to the nail yourself or think the damage is serious, call your doctor or a podiatrist. Go to an urgent care center or emergency room when: The tear is too far down for you to trim. The base or sides of the nail are pulling away or already detached from the nail bed or nail folds.
What happens if your nail completely comes off?
After a nail separates from the nail bed for whatever reason, it will not reattach. A new nail will have to grow back in its place. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back.
What happens if your whole toenail comes off?
Once your toenail falls off, it can’t reattach itself and keep growing. You’ll need to wait for the new nail to grow back in its place. 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.
Should you remove a dead toenail?
If you have a damaged toenail, you might be tempted to remove it yourself. 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.
How do you treat a ripped off toenail?
Trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone.
- Cover the nail with tape or an adhesive bandage until the nail has grown out enough to protect the finger or toe.
- If you trim off the detached nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing.
How can I regrow my toenail after removal?
It can take up to 6 months for fingernails to grow back and up to 18 months for toenails to regrow. Here’s a look at the stages of nail regrowth, including next steps if you lose a nail….How long does it take for a toenail to grow back?
| Scenario | Regrowth timeline (for fingernails and toenails) |
|---|---|
| after medical removal | up to 18 months |
| after psoriasis | 6 months or longer |
How long does it take for a toenail to grow back after being ripped off?
What should I do if my toenail is falling off?
A doctor can numb the area, stop any bleeding, and treat the nail. That could include cleaning, trimming, and putting the nail back in place if it’s detached but in good condition. Your nail, or an artificial one, will protect the nail bed, and it’s more comfortable than a bandage.
How can you tell if a toenail has ripped off?
The base or sides of the nail are pulling away or already detached from the nail bed or nail folds. The toenail has ripped off. (The nail bed may look pearly, as though the nail is still there, even though it’s completely off.) Bring the nail with you.
When to go to the ER for a ripped off toenail?
Go to an urgent care center or emergency room when: The tear is too far down for you to trim. The base or sides of the nail are pulling away or already detached from the nail bed or nail folds. The toenail has ripped off. (The nail bed may look pearly, as though the nail is still there, even though it’s completely off.) Bring the nail with you.
How do you remove a broken toenail without bleeding?
If there is no evidence of tears or lacerations to the matrix or the nail bed, then simply removing any unattached remnants of the nail with a nail clipper and cleaning the nail bed with a soapy washcloth and water to remove foreign material and blood is all that is necessary.