How long for removed toenail to grow back

After medical removal, it can take up to 18 months for a nail to fully regrow. Psoriasis is a condition that causes itchy, scaly patches on your skin — it can also affect your nails. Symptoms of nail psoriasis include:. Medications used to treat psoriasis corticosteroids and biologics and topical steroids might improve nail appearance. It can take 6 months or longer for your nail to grow out. Other factors affect the speed of regrowth.

For example, nails tend to grow slower in older adults and in colder climates. Nails grow faster in the summer. Overall health also has an impact on growth. And since hormones affect regrowth, your toenails and fingernails might grow quicker during pregnancy.

Nails grow from underneath your skin at the matrix , which is the root of your nail. New cells form in the matrix. And as these new cells grow, older cells move up and push through your skin. The cells on the surface die and harden, turning into nails.

OTC anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve mild pain, and the nail will eventually grow back. You should call a doctor for hard-to-treat nail fungus, nail psoriasis, and other symptoms of an infection. If X-rays were taken, you will be told of any new findings that may affect your care. Was this helpful? Yes No Tell us more. Check all that apply.

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All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Fungal infections can develop for many reasons and are more likely to occur when the skin or nail is broken. Key causes and risk factors include:. Treating fungal infections is often tricky. It may require topical creams, oral antifungal medications, or sometimes a combination of the two.

Preventing toenail fungus may be easier than treating the infection. A person can prevent toenail fungus by:. Injuries are a common cause of a toenail falling off. Even minor injuries can have this impact.

Typical injuries may include:. When injured, the toenail will often appear black or purple as blood collects under the nail, which is called subungual hematoma. The blood puts pressure on the nail, which may fall off after several weeks. When the hematoma covers more than a small portion of the nail, or there is intense pain or throbbing, a person should seek medical attention.

A doctor may be able to relieve the pressure by creating a small hole with a needle, which allows the blood to drain. Depending on which toe is affected, and how much of the nail is damaged, it can take up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back completely. It is important to wear well-fitting shoes and socks and keep the nail well-trimmed to prevent further injury. This condition causes the body to overproduce skin cells that buildup in patches.

Psoriasis typically appears on the skin, but up to 55 percent of people with this condition also experience it on their finger or toenails. A person who does not have psoriasis on their skin is unlikely to develop nail psoriasis. Only 5 percent of people without psoriasis on their skin will get nail psoriasis.

When psoriasis appears under the nail, it is often mild and causes minimal issues. Severe illnesses. How is it treated? File any sharp edges smooth, or trim the nail. This will help prevent catching the nail and tearing it more.

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. Use scissors to remove the detached part of the nail if the nail is partly attached.

Soak your finger or toe in cold water for 20 minutes after trimming the nail. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and cover the area with a nonstick bandage. To prevent infection: Soak your foot or hand in a solution of 1 tsp 5 g of salt dissolved in 4 cups 1 L warm water for 20 minutes, 2 or 3 times each day, for the next 3 days.

Reapply petroleum jelly, and cover with a fresh adhesive bandage. Keep the nail bed dry, clean, and covered with petroleum jelly and an adhesive bandage until the nail bed is firm or the nail has grown back. Apply a new adhesive bandage whenever the bandage gets wet.