Regrowing Nails: The Journey From Loss To Full Recovery

Fingernails grow at a rate of 0.13 inches per month. If the visible part of your fingernails becomes detached due to an injury, the nail will grow back on its own. It can take up to six months for your fingernail to grow back to its full size.

Nail matrix regeneration

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. But with the right treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow again. Even if your nail falls off, it usually grows back with proper medical care. It’s rare for your nail matrix to be permanently damaged, preventing your nail from growing back.

As long as there is no permanent damage to the nail matrix or nail bed, the nail ought to entirely regrow and appear completely normal. Fingernails grow at a rate of .13 inches per month. Toenails grow more slowly, usually close to half the rate of fingernails. Fingernails can regrow entirely in 3-6 months. Fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about 3 months. If there is damage to the nail matrix, the growing nail plate will contain a defect. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail.

For the average adult, fingernails grow about 1/10 of an inch a month. That means it can take up to six months for your fingernail to grow back to its full size. You may be given a splint or special shoe to help protect your nail and finger or toe as they heal. Often, a new nail will grow in and replace the old nail, pushing it off as it grows. If you lose your nail, it will take about 7 to 10 days for the nail bed to heal. A new fingernail will take about 4 to 6 months to grow to replace the lost nail. Toenails take about 12 months to grow back. The new nail will probably have grooves or ridges and be somewhat misshapen. This may be permanent.

Nail bed healing

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. But with the right treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow again. Even if your nail falls off, it usually grows back with proper medical care. It’s rare for your nail matrix to be permanently damaged, preventing your nail from growing back. But if this happens, ask your provider if you should protect your finger or toe during physical activity. Over time, you’ll likely get used to your nail being gone.

If you lose your nail, it will take about 7 to 10 days for the nail bed to heal. A new fingernail will take about 4 to 6 months to grow to replace the lost nail. Toenails take about 12 months to grow back. The new nail will probably have grooves or ridges and be somewhat misshapen. This may be permanent.

The nail bed is the part of the nail that is under the skin. As long as there is no permanent damage to the nail matrix or nail bed, the nail ought to entirely regrow and appear completely normal. Fingernails grow at a rate of .13 inches per month. Toenails grow more slowly, usually close to half the rate of fingernails. Fingernails can regrow entirely in 3-6 months. Fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about 3 months. If there is damage to the nail matrix, the growing nail plate will contain a defect. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail.

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. But with the right treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow again. Even if your nail falls off, it usually grows back with proper medical care. It’s rare for your nail matrix to be permanently damaged, preventing your nail from growing back. But if this happens, ask your provider if you should protect your finger or toe during physical activity. Over time, you’ll likely get used to your nail being gone.

You can completely lose the dead cells, the visible part of your nail. But truly, the heart of your nail is under your skin in what is called the matrix or nail root, and you generally won’t lose that. You can, however, damage the matrix, resulting in deformation of the fingernail as it grows back. For the average adult, fingernails grow about 1/10 of an inch a month. That means it can take up to six months for your fingernail to grow back to its full size.

Nail growth rate

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. But with the right treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow again. Even if your nail falls off, it usually grows back with proper medical care. It’s rare for your nail matrix to be permanently damaged, preventing your nail from growing back. But if this happens, ask your provider if you should protect your finger or toe during physical activity. Over time, you’ll likely get used to your nail being gone.

You can completely lose the dead cells, the visible part of your nail. But truly, the heart of your nail is under your skin in what is called the matrix or nail root, and you generally won’t lose that. You can, however, damage the matrix, resulting in deformation of the fingernail as it grows back. If the visible part of your fingernails becomes detached due to an injury, the nail will grow back on its own. But it will require some patience on your part. For the average adult, fingernails grow about 1/10 of an inch a month. That means it can take up to six months for your fingernail to grow back to its full size.

Fingernails can regrow entirely in 3-6 months. Fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about 3 months. If there is damage to the nail matrix, the growing nail plate will contain a defect. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail.

The reason fingernails grow faster isn’t fully understood. But according to one theory, fingers receive more blood flow because they’re used more often, which likely contributes to faster fingernail growth. Although it can take months for nails to grow back, the rate of regrowth can be faster or slower depending on the scenario, as shown in the following table.

Stubbing your toe or dropping an item on your foot can damage your toenail. Depending on the severity of the injury, your toenail might turn black and fall off. Toenail regrowth tends to be slower after an injury or trauma, taking anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

Nail matrix damage

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail, but if there is permanent damage to the nail matrix or nail bed, the nail will not regrow.

If the visible part of your fingernails becomes detached due to an injury, the nail will grow back on its own, but it will require some patience on your part. For the average adult, fingernails grow about 1/10 of an inch a month, so it can take up to six months for your fingernail to grow back to its full size.

As long as there is no permanent damage to the nail matrix or nail bed, the nail ought to entirely regrow and appear completely normal. Fingernails can regrow entirely in 3-6 months, but fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about 3 months.

If you lose your nail, it will take about 7 to 10 days for the nail bed to heal. A new fingernail will take about 4 to 6 months to grow to replace the lost nail. Toenails take about 12 months to grow back. The new nail will probably have grooves or ridges and be somewhat misshapen. This may be permanent.

You may be given a splint or special shoe to help protect your nail and finger or toe as they heal. Often, a new nail will grow in and replace the old nail, pushing it off as it grows.

Nail growth time

The nail matrix is the “factory” where your body makes new fingernails and toenails. Certain injuries and illnesses can damage your nail matrix and affect how your nails look or grow. But with the right treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow again. Even if your nail falls off, it usually grows back with proper medical care. It’s rare for your nail matrix to be permanently damaged, preventing your nail from growing back. But if this happens, ask your provider if you should protect your finger or toe during physical activity. Over time, you’ll likely get used to your nail being gone.

The nail bed is the part of the nail that is visible and it is the first part to heal after a nail falls off. It takes about 7 to 10 days for the nail bed to heal. A new fingernail will take about 4 to 6 months to grow to replace the lost nail. Toenails take about 12 months to grow back. The new nail will probably have grooves or ridges and be somewhat misshapen. This may be permanent.

The rate of regrowth can be faster or slower depending on the scenario. Fingernails grow at a rate of .13 inches per month. Toenails grow more slowly, usually close to half the rate of fingernails. Fingernails can regrow entirely in 3-6 months. Fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about 3 months. If there is damage to the nail matrix, the growing nail plate will contain a defect. Minor damage will produce minor defects in the nail.

The reason fingernails grow faster isn’t fully understood. But according to one theory, fingers receive more blood flow because they’re used more often, which likely contributes to faster fingernail growth. Although it can take months for nails to grow back, the rate of regrowth can be faster or slower depending on the scenario. Stubbing your toe or dropping an item on your foot can damage your toenail. Depending on the severity of the injury, your toenail might turn black and fall off. Toenail regrowth tends to be slower after an injury or trauma, taking anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

Frequently asked questions