Ava Monroe
When cutting your fingernails, it is recommended to leave 1-2mm of the nails' white rim or lunula to ensure they are long enough to be useful but not too long to get in the way. If you have a torn or detached nail, you can either trim off the detached part or leave the nail alone and cover it with tape or an adhesive bandage until the new nail grows in.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How much to leave on the nail | 1-2mm of the nails’ white rim |
| Time for nail to grow back | 6 months or longer for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail |
| What happens if you leave a detached nail | It will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in |
| What happens if you trim a detached nail | You will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing |
What You'll Learn
How to treat torn or detached nails
If you have a torn or detached nail, you can either trim off the detached part or leave the nail alone. If you choose to trim, file any sharp edges smooth or trim the nail to prevent catching the nail and tearing it more. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in.
If you have a nailbed injury, you may need to use stitches (sutures) or a special glue to treat it. You may also need to cover the finger or toe with a bandage.
If you have onycholysis, which is nail separation, you may need to remove the nail, keep the area dry to prevent infection, and wait for a new nail to grow.
If you have a nailbed injury or onycholysis, it is important to get bone fractures treated right away to prevent future problems.
It is also important to treat the infection or skin condition that caused the separated nail.
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How long it takes for nails to grow back
Nails grow back slowly and it takes about 6 months or longer for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back. 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. File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more.
If you and your healthcare provider can determine the cause of your onycholysis, your nails will slowly but surely regrow. Onycholysis appears along with other serious symptoms, including fatigue, feeling cold, dizziness or weakness, headaches, a sore tongue and a fast heartbeat. Your symptoms don’t improve after treatment. The skin around your nails looks infected (red, purple, gray or white skin; irritation and swelling).
If a nail is injured, even if stitched or glued in place, it may fall off in a few weeks. It can take up to 9 months for the nail to grow back. If the nailbed was damaged, your child's new nail may: Have a bend, crease, or split in it. Not fully stick to the skin and lift up in places. Not fully grow back. It is very important to get bone fractures treated right away to prevent future problems.
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. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in.
She suggests leaving 1-2 millimeters of the nails’ white rim (it’s called the lunula, which is Latin for “little moon”) when you cut them. That leaves them long enough to be useful, like helping you turn a page of a book, but keeps them from getting in the way, like when you’re typing on a keyboard.
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How to prevent nail catching and tearing
If you have a torn or detached nail, trim off the detached part 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. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in.
If you have onycholysis, which is nail separation, your nails will slowly but surely regrow. Your fingernails grow slowly, and your toenails grow even slower. It may take up to six to nine months for your fingernails to grow completely out, and it may take 12 to 18 months for your toe nails to grow completely out.
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. File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more.
She suggests leaving 1-2 millimeters of the nails’ white rim (it’s called the lunula, which is Latin for “little moon”) when you cut them. That leaves them long enough to be useful, like helping you turn a page of a book, but keeps them from getting in the way, like when you’re typing on a keyboard.
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How to clean a finger and check an injury
If you have a torn or detached nail, you can trim off the detached part or leave the nail alone. If you choose to trim the nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in.
If you have a nailbed injury, you may need to remove the nail and treat the injury with stitches or a special glue. You may also need to cover the finger or toe with a bandage. After a nail is injured, even if it is stitched or glued in place, it may fall off in a few weeks.
If you have a nail separation, you may need to remove the nail and wait for a new nail to grow. The nail will grow slowly, and it may take up to six to nine months for the nail to grow back completely.
If you have a nailbed injury, you may need to remove the nail and treat the injury with stitches or a special glue. You may also need to cover the finger or toe with a bandage. After a nail is injured, even if it is stitched or glued in place, it may fall off in a few weeks.
If you have a nail separation, you may need to remove the nail and wait for a new nail to grow. The nail will grow slowly, and it may take up to six to nine months for the nail to grow back completely.
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How to treat a nailbed injury
If you have a nailbed injury, it is important to get it treated right away to prevent future problems. Stitches (sutures) or a special glue can be used to treat a nailbed injury. A bandage to cover the finger or toe can also be used. After a nail is injured, even if stitched or glued in place, it may fall off in a few weeks. It can take up to 9 months for the nail to grow back. If the nailbed was damaged, your new nail may: have a bend, crease, or split in it; not fully stick to the skin and lift up in places; or not fully grow back.
If you have a torn or detached nail, you can trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone. If you trim off the detached nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in. 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. File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more.
It is important to leave 1-2 millimeters of the nails’ white rim (it’s called the lunula, which is Latin for “little moon”) when you cut them. That leaves them long enough to be useful, like helping you turn a page of a book, but keeps them from getting in the way, like when you’re typing on a keyboard.
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Frequently asked questions
Leaving 1-2 millimeters of the nails’ white rim (it’s called the lunula, which is Latin for “little moon”) when you cut them is suggested. This leaves them long enough to be useful, like helping you turn a page of a book, but keeps them from getting in the way, like when you’re typing on a keyboard.
It takes about 6 months or longer for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back.
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. If you leave the detached nail in place, it will eventually fall off when the new nail grows in.
It may take 12 to 18 months for your toenails to grow completely out.
If you and your healthcare provider can determine the cause of your onycholysis, your nails will slowly but surely regrow.
