
How to repair a broken nail bed
- 1 Gluing. Reattaching the nail with glue could be a possible home treatment. Apply a small amount of adhesive to the...
- 2 Use of Tea bags. Using a tea bag is also a good home treatment. Cut a nail-sized chunk of a tea bag from an ordinary...
- 3 Wrap silk and gel. To keep the nail in place, another option is to use a gel and silk wrap. The...
How do you treat a damaged nail bed?
Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Addressing Any Immediate Injuries
- Assess the extent of injury. Before you decide how to treat your nails, you'll want to take a closer look to determine in what ways they were damaged.
- Treat any wounds. If your nail is split open or cut, then wash the area carefully under water with soap.
- Make a doctor's appointment. ...
- Avoid spreading fungal infections. ...
- Get emergency help. ...
How to restore a damaged toenail bed?
Wear shoes that fit well to avoid further injury.
- Also refrain from making sudden stops. When you're done running, for instance, steadily slow to a walk so that you don't pitch forward, and your toes don't hit the tips ...
- Wear breathable cotton socks instead of tights or pantyhose.
- Your doctor may recommend wearing an orthopedic shoe for a while to protect your toe and give it a chance to heal.
How do you repair a damaged toenail bed?
You can care for a ripped toenail at home if:
- The tear isn't too far down toward your foot, and the nail is still attached to the nail bed.
- Any bleeding stops quickly.
- You have little, if any, blood pooling under the remaining nail (it will look like a blue-black spot), and it doesn't hurt much.
- The toe itself looks normal.
How do you fix a cracked nail bed?
- Cut a piece of the tea bag into an exact size to cover the nail crack
- Clean your nail correctly by removing the nail polish if any
- Apply base nail coat as glue and stick the tea bag piece on it
- Let it dry completely
- Then smoothen the surface of the nail using a buffer
- Apply another base nail coat

Can you fix a damaged nail bed?
Some nail bed injuries can be fully repaired, and your nail could return to normal. However, some severe injuries may result in a deformed nail. Deformities are likely to happen if the base of the nail bed (where it is crescent-shaped) is injured.
How long does it take for a damaged nail bed to heal?
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.
Can nail beds be restored?
Many injuries to your nail bed can be fully repaired. For example, your nail should return to normal after a subungual hematoma is drained. However, some severe injuries can lead to a deformed nail. This is more likely when the base of your nail bed is injured.
Are damaged nail beds permanent?
Severe damage to the nail bed (the soft tissue underneath the nail plate that attaches the nail to the finger), particularly from a crush injury, often results in permanent nail deformity. To reduce the risk of a permanent nail deformity, the injury should be repaired immediately, which requires removal of the nail.
Should I cover an exposed nail bed?
Protect any exposed part of the nail bed for 7 to 10 days until this skin hardens and isn't sensitive anymore. Coat the area with antibiotic ointment and top with a nonstick bandage. Change the bandage every day and whenever it gets wet.
What happens if you damage your nail bed?
If the nail is damaged or torn, the doctor may remove it and repair the nail bed. They may also do so if the finger or toe is fractured. The doctors may likewise remove part or all of the nail if the nail bed matrix is damaged.
Can you put acrylic on a damaged nail bed?
Can I still do acrylic nails on a broken nail? You can put acrylics over a broken nail as long as it is not an open wound or bleeding. If you have one that feels burn when you clean it with alcohol, you should wait a few days until the wound is healed or the bleeding stops at least 48 hours.
Can you grow your nail bed?
Like your regular fingernails and toenails, nail beds also grow; however, they don't become longer over time. Despite this, you can still help the tissue of your nail beds grow and regenerate at a healthy rate by adopting good grooming habits and performing the right treatments after a nail bed injury.
What doctor treats nail bed injuries?
They will often require the expertise of a hand specialist, and you may need to undergo surgery. If the nail bed is partially missing, the surgeon may use grafts from other fingers. In some cases, they may even take grafts from toes.
Should I remove a damaged nail?
If you have a damaged toenail, you might be tempted to remove it yourself. But while damaged toenails sometimes fall off on their own, it's not a good idea to force that process. Removing a damaged toenail yourself could lead to serious complications that end up making matters worse.
How long does it take for nail beds to heal after acrylics?
Depending on how long your nail beds are, the new nails will grow back and recover in 4 to 6 months. During this time, you can use some other less damaging nail strengthening products like gel base coat and topcoat to keep them from worsening by breaking or peeling.
How do I know if my nail matrix is damaged?
If the matrix is destroyed it will not be able to create the nail. If there is minor damage it will be seen by a ridge or groove in the emerging nail. This can heal and the nail will grow without any noticeable damage. More serious damage can result in a permanent fault seen in the nail plate.
How do you heal damaged nails?
Use a Cuticle Cream or Oil Remark notes that one of the easiest ways to repair damaged nails is to apply a cuticle oil followed by a hand cream. "Cuticle oils deliver vitamins and nourishment and the cream will lock moisture. Moisture loss is a common symptom of gel nail damage," Remark says.
Can you put acrylic on a damaged nail bed?
Can I still do acrylic nails on a broken nail? You can put acrylics over a broken nail as long as it is not an open wound or bleeding. If you have one that feels burn when you clean it with alcohol, you should wait a few days until the wound is healed or the bleeding stops at least 48 hours.
How long does it take for a torn nail to heal?
On average, fingernails grow at a rate of 0.1 millimeters every day — though oddly, they grow faster in the summer during warm weather. Toenails gr...
Should I cover an exposed nail bed?
If the nail came off because of an injury, the exposed nail bed should be kept dry and bandaged while waiting for a new nail to start growing to re...
What causes a nail to crack?
A split nail can be caused by too much moisture, picking or biting, or an injury or infection. It can also be indicative of bigger issues such as p...
Why is the side of my nail throbbing?
There are two potential reasons why the side of your nail is throbbing. Acute paronychia is an infection around the nail margin causing throbbing p...
Does a fingernail grow back?
If your nail plate is completely separated from your nail bed, there's no way to reattach it — you just have to wait for a new nail to grow in. If...
What happens if you have a torn nail?
This is most often associated with a minimal amount of bleeding and a moderate amount of pain.
What to do if there is no evidence of tears or lacerations to the matrix or the nail bed?
If there is no evidence of tears or lacerations to the matrix or the nail bed, then simply removing any unattached remnants of the nail with a nail clipper and cleaning the nail bed with a soapy washcloth and water to remove foreign material and blood is all that is necessary.
How long does it take for toenails to grow?
Toenails grow more slowly, usually close to half the rate of fingernails. Fingernails can regrow entirely in three to six months. Fingers or toes that have sustained injuries that affect the nail bed and the matrix grow more slowly than unaffected nails for about three months.
Why do my toenails hurt?
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. Poorly fitting shoes are likely to injure nails through repeated trauma.
What happens if you have a nail that is detached from your finger?
If the entire nail is detached from the finger or toe, there is nothing that can be done to repair, reattach, or replace it. If there is any damage to adjacent tissues, the nail bed, nail matrix, or the proximal nail fold that could result in scarring, this should be assessed by a physician and repaired if appropriate.
What to do if you have a nail infection?
The major concern is damage to adjacent structures. If there seems to be significant damage to areas around the nail, then a visit to a physician may be necessary. If there are any signs of infection, swelling, increasing pain, or pus that develop a few days after the injury, then a visit to a physician is mandatory.
Can a surgical nail bed be improved?
Sometimes a minor surgical procedure to the nail bed can improve in the nail's appearance. If the trauma that produced the damaged nail involves adjacent structures and an infection occurs, this will require treatment with appropriate antibiotics and possibly surgical debridement.
What happens if you get a nail bed injury?
Nail bed injuries can cause: 1 blood to pool under your nail 2 your nail to crack into pieces 3 your nail to be torn off
How to get a ring off a nail bed?
However, there are several steps you should take before seeing a doctor when you injure your nail bed: Remove all jewelry from your hands. If your finger’s too swollen to get a ring off, call your doctor immediately. Gently wash the injury, especially if it’s bleeding. Apply a bandage if necessary.
What is a nail bed avulsion?
A nail bed avulsion is when your nail and part of your nail bed are pulled away from the rest of your finger. It commonly happens to your ring finger and is caused by your finger getting stuck or jammed in something. Nail bed avulsions are very painful and cause your finger to swell. Finger fractures are also common with this type of injury.
What happens when your finger is crushed?
When your fingertip or your nail bed is pinched, crushed, or cut, it causes a nail bed injury. Crushing can happen when your finger gets caught between two objects or in a doorway. Heavy objects falling on your finger can also cause injuries to the nail bed, as can being hit by a hammer. Cuts to your fingertip, nail bed, ...
Why does my nail bed bleed?
It’s usually caused by a saw or knife but can also be caused by a crushing injury. If you have a nail bed laceration, it’s likely to bleed. You’ll be able to see the cut through your nail. As it heals, you might have a large bruise.
How long does it take to get a splint for a nail bed avulsion?
This injury requires removing your nail. If you also have a finger fracture, it will need to be splinted. You might need a splint for up to three weeks, depending on the seriousness of the injury.
What causes blood to pool under your nail?
Types of nail bed injuries. Nail bed injuries can cause: blood to pool under your nail. your nail to crack into pieces. your nail to be torn off. There are many types of nail bed injuries, including:
How to heal a torn nail?
The best way to treat a torn nail is to give it time to grow back. You can help make sure it grows back safely, and you can also take steps at home to reduce pain and discomfort as it grows.
What to do if your toenail tears?
Keeping the area around your nails dry can help prevent an infection from developing [sources: Aetna InteliHealth, Mayo Clinic, Rouzier ].
What happens when your nail separates?
When your nail tears or separates, the nail matrix grows the new nail [source: Mayo Clinic ]. The ways you can tear your nail plate are endless, but the most common way people tear their nails is by trimming them incorrectly -- they cut their nails at the wrong angle, leaving a tear or hangnail [source: Bruno ].
Why does my nail throb?
There are two potential reasons why the side of your nail is throbbing. Acute paronychia is an infection around the nail margin causing throbbing pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and pus. A hangnail is another potential reason that the side of your nail is throbbing.
Why do my nails turn yellow?
Nail psoriasis typically affects only people with psoriasis of the skin, and it weakens nails and can cause beds to turn white, red or yellow.
How long does it take for a torn nail to grow back?
Treating torn or separated nails can be frustrating. Your nails grow at a rate of about 0.004 inches (0.1 millimeters) per day -- it can take as long as six months for a nail to completely grow back [source: Mayo Clinic ].
What to do if your finger is torn?
If the finger or toe with a torn nail is painful, take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. If the pain is severe or doesn't subside, talk to your doctor [source: Rouzier ]. To learn how you can help regrow your nails quickly, read the next page.
How to treat a nail bed injury?
A person can often treat a minor nail bed injury at home by: removing all jewelry. washing the injured area gently with fragrance-free soap. bandaging the injury gently, if there is an open wound. applying an ice pack for about 20 minutes at a time. elevating the injured hand or foot.
How long does it take for a nail bed to heal?
Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take 6–9 months to fully recover.
What is the purpose of stitches in a nail?
A doctor uses stitches to repair any laceration to the nail bed and reattaches the nail, if possible, to provide protection and support while the new nail grows. Doctors treat avulsions in a similar way, but the nail is sometimes too badly damaged to be reused.
What is the term for the nail bed pulling away from the rest of the nail bed?
Avulsions. A nail bed avulsion involves the nail and part of the nail bed pulling away from the rest of nail bed, either partly or entirely. This typically results from the nail being crushed or sustaining a high impact injury. Avulsions can cause significant pain.
How to treat subungual hematoma?
A doctor may treat a more severe subungual hematoma by making a small hole in the nail and draining the pooling blood. This is known as trephination. However, a doctor will not use this method if the nail is damaged.
What causes blood to pool between nail and nail bed?
It forms when small blood vessels under the nail bed leak, and blood pools between the nail and the nail bed. This leakage usually occurs when the tips of the fingers or toes have been crushed or subjected to a heavy impact. Also, very tight-fitting shoes can put pressure on the blood vessels and cause leakage.
What is the nail bed?
The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail. Injuries to this area are common, and they often occur when a heavy object crushes or hits the fingers or toes or when a person sustains a cut from a sharp object.
How to fix a crack in a nail?
Step 1: After wiping the crack clean with nail polish remover, gently buff the nail with a file. Your goal here is to make the nail as smooth and clean as possible (no excess oil, polish, or snags). Step 2: Very gently, use nail glue to mend the crack. Once it's totally dry, paint a layer of clear gel polish over the nail.
How to make a nail crack?
Step 1: Cut the top off of a tea bag and make a square roughly the size of the crack. Step 2: Smooth a layer of nail glue over the crack (a brush-on formula is easiest here), and while it's still wet, place the tea bag square on top. Step 3: Once it's dry, paint one more layer of nail glue and you're good to go.
How to fix a crack in a nail?
Cut a Tea Bag. Once your nail is filed, Dunne says to cut a small piece of tea bag (make sure it's clean and no tea particles are attached) to lay over the entire crack—and, yes, it’s totally fine if it takes up the surface of the nail. After cutting your cloth, put it to the side until step four.
How to put a nail back together?
Now that your nail is buffed and filed to perfection, it’s time to put your nail back together. “Apply a layer of clear polish and use a toothpick or tweezers to apply the tea bag to the nail while the clear polish is still wet,” Dunne instructs. Once dry, buff out any rough patches before moving on to the next step.
What happens if you rip a nail off?
If this happens, watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling and pain, and see your doctor if this does occur. 1. If you caught your nail on something and actually ripped it off, unfortunately it won't reattach—but it will eventually grow back.
How long does it take for a fingernail to grow back?
Nails grow very slowly and it can take six months for a fingernail to grow back. The supplement biotin has been found to help strengthen nails so they don’t break as they grow. As a bonus, it also is thought to promote hair growth as well! 4 You can also apply a nail hardener to your nails to help protect them.
Why do you need to file a nail?
The reason filing is such a must—apart from the fact that most folks like smooth edges—is because doing so will help limit how far a crack can lead through the nail, which helps to avoid getting unnecessarily close to the quick. (Ouch, no thank you.)
Who is the lead nail technician at Chillhouse?
Lauren Dunne is a nail expert and the co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based nail salon, Varnish Lane. Molly Romah is the lead nail technician at Chillhouse in New York City. 01 of 05.
Do you need to see a doctor for a broken nail?
When to See a Doctor. Most nail breaks are not serious and do not require medical assistance, especially if it is just the tip of your nail. If your nail breaks down into your nail bed, however, it can be quite painful.