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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeFocus HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Torn or Detached Nail</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-sig256776-sec"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="b4cb0a40" fingerprint-exact="e7c3d1bb">Overview</h2> <p fingerprint="a641eb45" fingerprint-exact="a8acfe77">It can be very painful to tear or rip your nail from the nail bed. A nail may separate from the nail bed (detach) for many reasons, including: </p> <ul fingerprint="223fd6b8" fingerprint-exact="e8fca9fb"> <li>Injuries. <ul><li>Separation caused by injury is common in people who have long fingernails. The nail may pry away from the nail bed when it is hit or jammed. </li><li>Severe or repetitive toe stubbing may cause a toenail to detach. This is also common in athletes who wear shoes that aren't roomy enough. </li></ul></li> <li> <a class="HwLinkMultiMedia" data-hw-type="MultiMedia" data-hw-document-href="zm2402" data-hw-section="zm2402-sec" rel="MultiMedia" hw:document-type="MultiMedia" hw:document-href="zm2402" data-hwid="zm2402" hw:section-href="zm2402-sec" hw:link-type="image" href="?id=zm2402#zm2402-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Fungal nail infection</span></a>, which occurs when fungi invade a fingernail or toenail and the skin underneath the nail (nail bed). Toenails are more commonly affected than fingernails, and symptoms include cracked, yellow, discolored, streaked, thickened, or spotted nails. </li> <li>Skin conditions, such as <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stp1931" data-hw-section="stp1931-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stp1931" data-hwid="stp1931" hw:section-href="stp1931-sec" href="?id=stp1931#stp1931-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">psoriasis</span></a>. </li> <li>Chemicals, such as acrylic-based gel polishes. </li> <li>Medicines, such as chemotherapy or antibiotics. </li> <li>Severe illnesses. </li> </ul> <p fingerprint="e6180cfd" fingerprint-exact="2594cd97">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 or longer for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back. </p> <h3 class="HwSubSectionTitle" fingerprint="5e18351c" fingerprint-exact="592e8db8">How can you treat it at home?</h3> <p fingerprint="78908662" fingerprint-exact="9372a473">Home treatment often helps relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent infection. Treatment may involve removing the nail, keeping the area dry to prevent infection, and waiting for a new nail to grow. The infection or skin condition that caused the separated nail will also need to be treated. </p> <ul fingerprint="aa189f7c" fingerprint-exact="c278bae2"> <li>File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more. </li> <li>Trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone. <ul><li>Cover the nail with tape or an adhesive bandage until the nail has grown out enough to protect the finger or toe. </li><li>If you trim off the detached nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing. </li><li>If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in. </li></ul></li> <li>Use scissors to remove the detached part of the nail if the nail is partly attached. </li> <li>Soak your finger or toe in cold water for 20 minutes after trimming the nail. </li> <li>Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and cover the area with a nonstick bandage. </li> </ul> <p fingerprint="52dabedd" fingerprint-exact="55848a3d">To prevent infection: </p> <ul fingerprint="a07ca9a3" fingerprint-exact="cb784829"> <li>Soak your foot or hand in a solution of 1 tsp (5 mL) of salt dissolved in <span class="Measurement">4 cups (1 L)</span> warm water for 20 minutes, 2 or 3 times each day, for the next 3 days. Reapply petroleum jelly, and cover with a fresh adhesive bandage. </li> <li>Keep the nail bed dry, clean, and covered with petroleum jelly and an adhesive bandage until the nail bed is firm or the nail has grown back. Apply a new adhesive bandage whenever the bandage gets wet. </li> <li>Watch for signs of infection such as increasing heat, redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, or pus. </li> <li>Remove an artificial nail if it separates from the nail bed. If you leave it on, the long, artificial nail can tear the nail bed. </li> </ul> <p fingerprint="b4911000" fingerprint-exact="f530a3ed">Have a doctor trim your nail if you: </p> <ul fingerprint="1769d9f3" fingerprint-exact="14148b63"> <li>Aren't comfortable trimming the nail yourself. </li> <li>Have <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="std120744" data-hw-section="std120744-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="std120744" data-hwid="std120744" hw:section-href="std120744-sec" href="?id=std120744#std120744-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">diabetes</span></a>, <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stp1421" data-hw-section="stp1421-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stp1421" data-hwid="stp1421" hw:section-href="stp1421-sec" href="?id=stp1421#stp1421-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">peripheral arterial disease</span></a>, or an <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sti150867" data-hw-section="sti150867-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sti150867" data-hwid="sti150867" hw:section-href="sti150867-sec" href="?id=sti150867#sti150867-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">immune system</span></a> problem. These problems may cause reduced blood flow and loss of feeling in the feet. Untreated nail injuries can lead to infection, foot ulcers, and other serious problems. </li> </ul> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRelatedInformation" id="sec-sig256776-RelInfo"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="d5f858e0" fingerprint-exact="c0ffe04b">Related Information</h2><ul fingerprint="e0d909af" fingerprint-exact="c17403ad"><li class="HwOptionalAny"><a data-hw-type="Symptom" data-hw-document-href="nails" data-hw-section="hw257352" hw:document-type="Symptom" hw:document-href="nails" data-hwid="nails" hw:section-href="hw257352" href="?id=nails#hw257352">Nail Problems and Injuries</a></li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-sig256776-Credits"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> November 16, 2023</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a 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href="#top">Top of the page</a></div><div class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </div><div class="HwClear"> </div></div></div><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span>November 16, 2023</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</a></p><p><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en"><span><b>Clinical Review Board</b></span></a><br>All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwNavigationWrapper"><div class="HwNavigation" id="HwNavigation" 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