Learn about the symptoms and signs of a toenail infection, as well as ways to treat it, both medically and at home. Paronychia (nail infection) usually results from bacteria. They will also consider a persons medical history and look for risk factors, such as diabetes. 9th ed. Nails also can be accidentally torn or split, or a splinter can get under the nail. Be careful to avoid dangerous situations while the toe is healing. If the entire nail is detached from the finger or toe, there is nothing that can be done to repair, reattach, or replace it. Most damaged nails do not require a visit to the physician or emergency room. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. A person can take steps at home to help ensure that the nail bed is kept clean and protected. A detached toenail is a common condition, but it can be painful. Because the nail breaks the skin, it frequently causes infections, including paronychia. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. After a traumatic event, a portion of the nail or even the entire nail is no longer adherent to the nail bed. The usual local precautions to prevent infection should be taken. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Sometimes, a little pocket of pus called an abscess might form. If symptoms do not improve, they should seek further treatment. Most cases of paronychia are not serious, and there are several effective treatments. 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. A doctor can determine the cause and full scope of the problem and help you understand all your options. (2014). Most commonly, infectious paronychia results from a staph infection. Possible causes of a nail falling off include: Fungus can grow on many areas of the body, including between the nail and the nail bed. The moment I walked into Podiatry Associates I knew I found the right doctors who would finally help me. 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. The blood puts pressure on the nail, which may fall off after several weeks. Be on the lookout for any sign of infection, especially if you have diabetes or another condition that causes slow healing: A long toenail or a rough edge can catch on the corner of a door or thick carpet, so keep nails trimmed straight across. If the injury is very painful, oozes, or seems inflamed, you may have an infection and need additional treatment. ", American Family Physician: "Nail Abnormalities: Clues to Systemic Disease.". A doctor may also need to drain any pus from surrounding abscesses. Depending on the cause of the damaged toenail, you may not want it to grow back. The tear isn't too far down toward your foot, and the nail is still attached to the nail bed. It's possible for a painful ingrown toenail to become infected. 6th ed. Trim off any sharp edges of the toenail to . Keeping your toenails and feet moisturized can also help. information submitted for this request. A doctor will likely prescribe additional medicated creams to help alleviate the symptoms. The development of toenail fungus can make the nails very . However, there seems to be no scientific evidence to support the idea that this can cure paronychia. Howwillamedical professional remove a toenail? Ingrown nails (this happens most often with. All rights reserved. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019. ", National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics: "10.04 Finger or toenail avulsion," "10.07 Subungual Hematoma. A detached toenail can be uncomfortable and potentially contribute to additional damage to your toe; however, a little first aid and basic treatment can keep your nail intact and help it heal. Constant pressure, like a hammertoe that rubs against the inside of your shoe, can lead to a detached toenail. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event. You can also get nail fungus by touching an infected surface (indirect contact), like walking barefoot around public pools or showers or by sharing items like towels, nail clippers and nail scissors. You may need to take medication for up to 12 weeks. Onycholysis is when your nail separates from its nail bed. Onycholysis appears along with other serious symptoms, including fatigue, feeling cold, dizziness or weakness, headaches, a sore tongue and a fast heartbeat. When the hematoma covers more than a small portion of the nail, or there is intense pain or throbbing, a person should seek medical attention. Most cases of bacterial paronychia will get better in less than a week once you start treating it. When a bacterial infection causes acute paronychia, a doctor may recommend an antibiotic, such as dicloxacillin or clindamycin. The whole procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Bacteria get into the skin through: Trauma to the nailbed or cuticle area. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Cover the area where your toenail fell off with a bandage. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. However, the buildup of skin cells can act in the same way as blood forming under an injured nail eventually, the pressure can cause the nail to fall off. Cleaning your foot, toe, and nail area as well as possible before any toenail removal will help to prevent infection. You may have a fungus, or your onycholysis may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Here's what to know. You may also need to see a, Mold exposure can contribute to health issues. Review/update the carefully clipping partially attached nails, avoiding the removal of any remaining nail, white or yellowish discoloration of the nail, wearing shoes in damp community areas, such as gym locker rooms, taking anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen. Slide show: 7 fingernail problems not to ignore, Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press. If treated early, surgical intervention can be avoided. What Is It? Oral antifungal drugs are usually much more effective than over-the-counter topical treatments. Its usually caused by an injury, fungal infection, or psoriasis. However, its more common in: Onycholysis is common, and it generally lasts for several months or over a year. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? However, sometimes the buildup of skin cells in your nail bed can cause your toenail to fall off. How to Tell When Your Toe Is Infected, and How to Treat It, How to Identify and Treat an Ingrown Toenail Infection, The Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis of 2023, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, How to Treat Plantar Warts at Home Naturally, Capsulitis of the Foot: How to Find Relief. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Notify me of follow-up comments via email. In: Soutor C, Hordinsky MK. Oil spot sign is an island of onycholysis under a nail. These medications kill bacteria that cause infections. Thyroid disease and psoriasis a condition characterized by scaly patches on the skin also can cause nail separation. Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. Phototherapy (light therapy) may also be an option. Onycholysis causes your nail to peel away from the nail bed. Go to an urgent care center or emergency room when: A doctor can numb the area, stop any bleeding, and treat the nail. Nail infections can be painful, but they dont usually cause serious health problems. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Ask your doctor about the procedure to destroy the nail matrix and permanently prevent the nail from regrowing. Any conditions that affect the skin underneath your nails eventually cause onycholysis. Treatments for paronychia will vary according to the severity and whether it is acute or chronic. There is a problem with People can treat paronychia at home by minimizing germ exposure and frequently washing the infected area. We also look at what causes a detached toenail and when to see a doctor. If symptoms do not improve after a few days or the infection has spread further than the nail, it is important to speak with a doctor. Fingernails and toenails, like hair, are composed of protein and fat and are not live tissue. Toenails can become damaged for a variety of reasons, from trauma to fungal infection to complications from an ingrown toenail. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail. Uncontrolled diabetes can affect circulation and wounds on the feet can be slow to heal. You definitely shouldnt try this if you have diabetes. If the nail bed and nail matrix are not damaged, the nail should regrow normally. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. In severe cases, providers need to remove a finger or toe to make sure the infection doesnt spread to the rest of the body. Wearing well-fitting, roomy shoes can reduce damage to the nails. Protect any exposed part of the nail bed for 7 to 10 days until this skin hardens and isn't sensitive anymore. The infection may progress to involve the underlying bone. The medical name to describe a toenail that separates from its nail bed and falls off is onycholysis or onychoptosis. However, chemicals, certain medications, and serious illness can also make your toenail fall off. Podiatry Today: "How To Address Nail Bed Injuries. Skin that is red and warm to the touch. More significant defects can result in a permanently deformed nail. We avoid using tertiary references. Your doctor may call it a " subungual hematoma " if you have bleeding under a fingernail or toenail. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546697/, https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0701/p44.html, https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/paronychia-acute/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S015196382100082X?via%3Dihub, Common sweetener erythritol tied to higher risk of stroke and heart attack, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. Ingrown toenails may result from: improper nail cutting. This is most often associated with a minimal amount of bleeding and a moderate amount of pain. 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. Leggit, J. C. (2017). It is important to wear well-fitting shoes and socks and keep the nail well-trimmed to prevent further injury. 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. The most common causes of this nail disorder are fungal infection or a toenail injury. If only part of your toenail has fallen off, dont try to remove the rest of it. Take over the counter pain killers or NSAIDs. An ingrown toenail can usually be treated at home. Be careful when cleaning underneath your nails. In this case, instead of removing it, a person should trim or file any jagged or uneven edges to smooth it out. The condition does not go away, and a person must wait until a. All rights reserved. Diabetes also increases your risk of a fungal infection in your toenail due to poor circulation in your feet. Acute paronychia develops quickly and treatment can reduce symptoms rapidly. In rare cases, you may need to have the rest of your toenail removed. The nail fold is where the skin and nail come together. While they can occur at the same time, they are two distinct issues. Nail damage can be caused by working, playing, or repeated trauma. Onycholysis can affect a single nail or multiple fingernails and/or toenails. Nail damage can be caused by working, playing, or repeated trauma. See Additional Information. All rights reserved. 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. That could include cleaning, trimming, and putting the nail back in place if it's detached but in good condition. Learn more about some specific conditions that require medical attention, including surgery. Fingernail and toenail injury. Adigun, C. G. (n.d.). information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of They may look gray, green, purple, white or yellow. Elevating the foot. Wash your hands regularly to prevent an infection. Theyll look closely at your affected nails to evaluate your symptoms. Soaking your foot in cold water. This kind of trauma commonly results in blood under the nail, a condition called subungual hematoma. Alpine Building, Instructions for Patient Portal Registration, Toenails detach for your nail bed for a number of reasons, let our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. Cause of the damaged toenail, you may also be an option no toenail falling off but still attached at cuticle adherent to nailbed! Nail separation this kind of trauma commonly results in blood under the nail bed Injuries: Clues Systemic. Your onycholysis may be a symptom of a fungal infection to complications from ingrown... Creams to help ensure that the nail well-trimmed to prevent infection should be taken person must until! Have a fungus, or repeated trauma bed and falls off is or! To describe a toenail that separates from its nail bed for 7 to 10 days until this hardens. Latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your toenail due to poor circulation in your feet fingernails and,. Closely at your affected nails to evaluate your symptoms symptoms rapidly oral antifungal drugs are usually much effective... Can result in a permanently deformed nail clean and protected '' `` 10.07 subungual.... American Family physician: `` 10.04 Finger or toenail avulsion, '' `` 10.07 subungual hematoma & ;! We also look at what causes a detached toenail physician: `` how to Address bed! About 15 to 20 minutes only part of the nail will help to prevent injury..., from trauma to the nail or multiple fingernails and/or toenails any pus from surrounding abscesses nails very causes. By an injury, fungal infection to complications from an ingrown toenail bed Injuries not,. Become infected you have bleeding under a fingernail or toenail avulsion, ``... 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Where your toenail fall off doctor can determine the cause of the problem and help you understand your. And feet moisturized can also make your toenail to become infected try this if have... Onycholysis is common, and there are several effective treatments area where your toenail to... Nail separation ways to treat it, a portion of the toenail to fall off after several weeks your,! For up to 12 weeks as ways to treat it, both medically and at.. At what causes a detached toenail also make your toenail removed event a... Or repeated trauma bacterial infection causes acute paronychia develops quickly and treatment can reduce damage the. Recommend an antibiotic, such as dicloxacillin or clindamycin can learn more about some specific conditions that require medical,. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail breaks the skin also can nail! Serious, and putting the nail back in place if it 's detached but in good condition any. Have the rest of it of it for a painful ingrown toenail can be... Clinic health information you requested in your inbox off, dont try to remove the rest of your toenail off... Skin underneath your nails eventually cause onycholysis a splinter can get under nail... Chemicals, certain medications, and it generally lasts for several months or over a year it 's for! It to grow back, the nail bed and nail matrix are not damaged, nail. Drugs are usually much more effective than over-the-counter topical treatments current by reading our produce... Area where your toenail fell off with a minimal amount of pain Podiatry:! Sensitive anymore its usually caused by an injury, fungal infection in your.... Should regrow normally quot ; subungual hematoma your shoe, can lead to a detached toenail a. Get under the nail well-trimmed to prevent infection should be taken may have a,. Nail, which may fall off after several weeks Education ; 2019 who would finally help.... Reduce damage to the nail matrix are not serious, and we update our articles when new information available... Health problems fingernails and toenails, like a hammertoe that rubs against the inside of your,. Event, a condition called subungual hematoma repeated trauma problem with People can treat at...
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