
Nail avulsion is a procedure that involves the removal of some or all of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail). It is the most frequently performed surgical or non-surgical procedure on the nail unit. The nail plate is separated from the nail bed and the proximal nail fold (PNF). This procedure may be carried out for diagnostic purposes or as a therapeutic tool in particular nail pathologies. It can be used to treat nail problems such as infection, growths, severe injury, and ingrown toenails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The separation of the nail plate from the surrounding structures |
| Procedure | Surgical or nonsurgical, chemical procedure on the finger or toe |
| Purpose | Exploration of the nail unit for diagnostic purposes or as a therapeutic tool in particular nail pathologies |
| Techniques | Distal or proximal anatomical approach |
| Removal | Some or all of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail) and the skin below the nail plate |
| Indications | Nail problems that did not get better with other treatments, including infection, growth, severe injury, ingrown toenail, redness, swelling, oozing, pain, odour |
| Traumatic injuries | Evaluation of the stability of the nail bed or release of a subungual hematoma after failed puncture aspiration |
| Ingredients | 40% urea, compounded with other ingredients to macerate the nail plate |
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What You'll Learn

Nail avulsion is a procedure on your finger or toe
Nail avulsion may be recommended by a healthcare provider if you are experiencing nail problems that have not improved with other treatments. This could include an infection of the nail, a growth on the nail, a severe injury to the nail, or an ingrown toenail. It can also be used to treat nail problems caused by cancer treatment, such as redness, swelling, oozing, pain, infection, or odour.
The procedure can be performed using either a distal or proximal anatomical approach. The distal approach is the most frequently used technique, in which the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the proximal approach, the nail plate is first separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF), followed by a complete separation moving distally.
Medical nail avulsion is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete. The main ingredient of a medical nail avulsion preparation is 40% urea, which is compounded with various other ingredients to slowly macerate the nail plate.
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It removes some or all of your nail plate
Nail avulsion is a procedure on your finger or toe that removes some or all of your nail plate (the hard part of your nail). It can also remove the skin below your nail plate. It is the most frequently performed surgical or non-surgical, chemical procedure on the nail unit.
The nail plate is excised from its prime attachments, the nail bed ventrally and the PNF dorsally. This may be done to explore the nail unit for diagnostic purposes or as a therapeutic tool in particular nail pathologies. It can be used to treat an infection of your nail, remove a growth from your nail, treat a severe injury to your nail, or treat an ingrown toenail.
Nail avulsion may be accomplished using either a distal or a proximal anatomical approach. The distal approach is the most frequently used technique, in which the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the proximal approach, the nail plate is separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF) followed by a complete separation moving distally.
Medical nail avulsion is the removal of a fingernail or toenail by chemical destruction of the nail plate. It is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete. Nails can also be partly or completely removed by more aggressive processes, which are painful and may lead to permanent nail dystrophy.
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It can be done to treat an infection of your nail
Nail avulsion is a procedure that removes some or all of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail). It can also remove the skin below the nail plate. It is the most frequently performed surgical or non-surgical, chemical procedure on the nail unit.
Nail avulsion may be accomplished using either a distal or a proximal anatomical approach. The former is the most frequently used technique, in which the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the latter, the nail plate is separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF) followed by a complete separation moving distally.
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It can be used to treat a severe injury to your nail
Nail avulsion is a procedure that removes some or all of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail). It can also remove the skin below the nail plate. It is the most frequently performed surgical or non-surgical, chemical procedure on the nail unit. It can be used to treat a severe injury to your nail, as well as to treat an infection, remove a growth, or treat an ingrown toenail. It may also be used to treat nail problems caused by cancer treatment, such as redness, swelling, oozing, pain, infection or odour.
Nail avulsion may be accomplished using either a distal or a proximal anatomical approach. The former is the most frequently used technique, in which the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the latter, the nail plate is separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF) followed by a complete separation moving distally.
Medical nail avulsion is the removal of a fingernail or, more often, a toenail by chemical destruction of the nail plate. It is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete. Nails can also be partly or completely removed by more aggressive processes, which are painful and may lead to permanent nail dystrophy. Medical nail avulsion is used to remove a nail that is causing symptoms that have not improved by other means.
Traumatic nail injuries: avulsion may be used to evaluate the stability of the nail bed or to release a subungual hematoma after failed puncture aspiration. If sufficient blunt or sharp force is applied to the nail plate and surrounding folds, it can violate the structural integrity of the nail bed and the resultant haemorrhage can fill the potential space that normally exists between the nail plate and the underlying nail bed.
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It can be used to treat nail problems caused by cancer treatment
Nail avulsion is the removal of some or all of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail). It can also be used to remove the skin below the nail plate. It is the most frequently performed surgical or non-surgical, chemical procedure on the nail unit. It can be used to treat nail problems caused by cancer treatment, including redness, swelling, oozing, pain, infection, or odour.
Nail avulsion may be recommended if you are experiencing nail problems that have not improved with other treatments. It can be used to treat an infection of the nail, remove a growth from the nail, treat a severe injury to the nail, or treat an ingrown toenail.
The procedure can be performed using either a distal or proximal anatomical approach. The distal approach is the most frequently used technique, in which the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the proximal approach, the nail plate is separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF), followed by a complete separation moving distally.
Medical nail avulsion is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete. Nails can also be partly or completely removed by more aggressive processes, which are painful and may lead to permanent nail dystrophy. The main ingredient of a medical nail avulsion preparation is 40% urea, which slowly macerates the nail plate.
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Frequently asked questions
Nail avulsion is a procedure on your finger or toe that removes some or all of your nail plate (the hard part of your nail). It can also remove the skin below your nail plate.
Nail avulsion may be performed to explore the nail unit for diagnostic purposes or as a therapeutic tool in particular nail pathologies. It can be used to treat an infection of your nail, remove a growth from your nail, treat a severe injury to your nail, or treat an ingrown toenail.
Nail avulsion may be accomplished using either a distal or a proximal anatomical approach. In the distal approach, the nail plate is released from its attachment to the nail bed at the hyponychium. In the proximal approach, the nail plate is separated from the proximal nail fold (PNF) followed by a complete separation moving distally.
Nails can be partly or completely removed by chemical destruction of the nail plate, or by more aggressive processes such as surgical nail avulsion.
Medical nail avulsion is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete.











































