Nail Growth Post-Chemotherapy: Understanding The Recovery Timeline

After finishing chemotherapy, fingernails should start to grow, although it can take up to six months for a fingernail to regrow. Nail changes during chemotherapy are usually temporary and return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. However, some people have noted that ridges and lines have remained on their nails for some time after completing chemotherapy.

Nail changes during chemo are usually temporary

Most nail changes during chemotherapy are temporary and nails usually return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. Nail changes caused by chemo are usually short-term and return to normal within a few months of stopping treatment. Not all people who are being treated with chemotherapy will experience changes to their nails. If you are affected, you may notice some of the following changes:

• Ridges
• Lines
• Nail loss
• Nail lifting
• Nails not growing back

A person’s doctor can help them to monitor nail changes and advise on any steps they can take to manage changes such as nail loss. If a person is taking a taxane drug such as docetaxel, applying a cold pack to the nails for 15 minutes before, during, and after the infusion may help to prevent the nail from lifting.

It can take around 6 months for a person to regrow a fingernail and a toenail can take about 1.5 years to regrow. However, the nails will not grow back in rare cases. A person should contact their doctor if their nails do not regrow or if they have concerns about the way a nail is growing. A person may use management methods, such as wearing gloves, to help reduce their chances of developing an infection. These methods may also help to protect and strengthen a person’s nails.

Some nail changes can last long after treatment ends

Most nail changes are temporary, but some can last long after treatment ends or can even be permanent. Nail changes caused by chemo are usually short-term and return to normal within a few months of stopping treatment. Nails should begin to grow after a person finishes chemotherapy. It can take around 6 months for a person to regrow a fingernail and about 1.5 years to regrow a toenail. However, the nails will not grow back in rare cases. A person should contact their doctor if their nails do not regrow or if they have concerns about the way a nail is growing. A person may use management methods, such as wearing gloves, to help reduce their chances of developing an infection. These methods may also help to protect and strengthen a person’s nails. If a person is taking a taxane drug such as docetaxel, applying a cold pack to the nails for 15 minutes before, during, and after the infusion may help to prevent the nail from lifting.

During chemotherapy, you may experience changes to your fingernails and toenails. Most nail changes that happen during chemotherapy are temporary and nails usually return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. Not all people who are being treated with chemotherapy will experience changes to their nails. If you are affected, you may notice some of the following changes: ridges and lines. Changes to fingernails and toenails are a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs.

The time from the start of chemotherapy to when a person starts to develop nail changes was 3–6 weeks. However, the time it takes for a person to experience nail changes may vary. A person’s doctor can help them to monitor nail changes and advise on any steps they can take to manage changes such as nail loss. It’s important to tell your health care team as soon as you notice any expected or unexpected changes to your nails. Preventing and avoiding injuries to your nails is an important part of keeping them as healthy as possible.

Nails usually return to normal a few weeks after chemo

Most nail changes that happen during chemotherapy are temporary and nails usually return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. Not all people who are being treated with chemotherapy will experience changes to their nails. If you are affected, you may notice some of the following changes:

• Ridges
• Lines
• Nail loss

Changes to fingernails and toenails are a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs. Most nail changes are temporary, but some can last long after treatment ends or can even be permanent. Nail changes caused by chemo are usually short-term and return to normal within a few months of stopping treatment. The time from the start of chemotherapy to when a person starts to develop nail changes was 3–6 weeks. However, the time it takes for a person to experience nail changes may vary. A person’s doctor can help them to monitor nail changes and advise on any steps they can take to manage changes such as nail loss. Preventing and avoiding injuries to your nails is an important part of keeping them as healthy as possible.

Nail changes may vary from person to person

Nail changes during chemotherapy are temporary and most of them return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. Not all people who are being treated with chemotherapy will experience changes to their nails. If you are affected, you may notice some of the following changes:

• Ridges and lines
• Nail loss
• Nail lifting
• Nails may not grow back

The time from the start of chemotherapy to when a person starts to develop nail changes was 3–6 weeks, but the time it takes for a person to experience nail changes may vary. A person’s doctor can help them to monitor nail changes and advise on any steps they can take to manage changes such as nail loss. If a person is taking a taxane drug such as docetaxel, applying a cold pack to the nails for 15 minutes before, during, and after the infusion may help to prevent the nail from lifting. It’s important to tell your health care team as soon as you notice any expected or unexpected changes to your nails. Preventing and avoiding injuries to your nails is an important part of keeping them as healthy as possible.

Contact your doctor if your nails do not regrow

After a person finishes chemotherapy, their nails should begin to grow. It can take around 6 months for a person to regrow a fingernail. A toenail can take about 1.5 years to regrow. However, the nails will not grow back in rare cases. A person should contact their doctor if their nails do not regrow or if they have concerns about the way a nail is growing. A person may use management methods, such as wearing gloves, to help reduce their chances of developing an infection. These methods may also help to protect and strengthen a person’s nails. If a person is taking a taxane drug such as docetaxel, applying a cold pack to the nails for 15 minutes before, during, and after the infusion may help to prevent the nail from lifting.

During chemotherapy, you may experience changes to your fingernails and toenails. Most nail changes that happen during chemotherapy are temporary and nails usually return to normal a few weeks after chemotherapy treatment is finished. Not all people who are being treated with chemotherapy will experience changes to their nails. If you are affected, you may notice some of the following changes: ... While most of these changes are temporary, some people have noted that ridges and lines have remained on their nails for some time after completing chemotherapy. Changes to fingernails and toenails are a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs.

Most nail changes are temporary, but some can last long after treatment ends or can even be permanent. Nail changes caused by chemo are usually short-term and return to normal within a few months of stopping treatment.

Consider using cold packs if your chemo includes a taxane: If you are taking a taxane (especially docetaxel), consider applying cold packs to your nails for 15 minutes before the infusion, during the infusion, and for 15 minutes after the infusion. This may prevent nail lifting. Talk to your nurse or doctor first. It’s important to tell your health care team as soon as you notice any expected or unexpected changes to your nails. Preventing and avoiding injuries to your nails is an important part of keeping them as healthy as possible.

The time from the start of chemotherapy to when a person starts to develop nail changes was 3–6 weeks. However, the time it takes for a person to experience nail changes may vary. A person’s doctor can help them to monitor nail changes and advise on any steps they can take to manage changes such as nail loss.

Frequently asked questions