Can a toenail grow back after being removed?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 19, 2026
Detached toenails are usually safe to remove, and they will typically grow back within a year and a half. A detached toenail can result from an injury or infection. Fungal infections or injuries may require additional medical attention to help ensure the toenail grows back properly.
Do permanently removed toenails grow back?
Toenail removal.
Removing the whole nail makes it more likely that the nail will grow back misshapen or deformed, which can increase the risk of future ingrown toenails. It can take up to 18 months for the nail to regrow fully.
What are the chances of a toenail growing back?
Fingernails may grow one-tenth of a millimeter each day, so completely removed fingernails usually grow within 6 months. Toenails may grow at about one-half or one-third the rate of the fingernails, so completely removed toenails may grow within 18 months.
How can I get my toenail to grow back?
Once your toenail falls off, it can't reattach itself and keep growing. You'll need to wait for the new nail to grow back in its place. Depending on the cause and how much, if any, of your toenail remains, you might need additional treatment to make sure your toenail grows back properly.
How do you treat a toenail that grows up?
The most important thing you can do is trim your toenails using a strong, sharp nail clipper. Cut each toenail to the point where it begins to curve upward. Cut the nail straight across without cutting the edges inward. It's also important to leave the nail a little long to prevent it from growing inward.
38 related questions foundCan a toenail stop growing?
If you haven't had to clip or trim your toenails in a few months, it's possible that their development has slowed or halted entirely. This might be your body's way of warning you that there is an underlying problem causing your toenails to stop growing. Radiation and chemotherapy are two cancer therapies.
Can you live without toenails?
“Toenails are like our appendix,” Krebsbach says. “They do serve a purpose, but we can live without them.” You can run with toenails, and you can run without them.
How painful is it to have toenail removed?
In the first few hours after the surgery, expect the area around your nail to feel numb. After that, you may feel pain and throbbing. You may also notice swelling, bleeding, or fluid coming from your wound. For 48 hours after the surgery, keep your arm or leg elevated above the level of your heart as much as you can.
What can dissolve toenails?
The Epsom salt will absorb into the skin and help to soften and dissolve portions of the nail that has become embedded in the skin. Epsom salt is especially good at reducing pain and inflammation that is present in the area as well.
Why do old people's toenails get thick?
With age, there is a rapid decrease in the growth rate for both toenails and fingernails, said Dr. Richard K. Scher, head of the nail section at Weill Cornell Medical College. As a result, both kinds of nail thicken, because of the piling up of nail cells, called onychocytes.
What happens if your nail doesn't grow back?
A toenail takes about 12 months to grow back. If the nail bed or matrix was damaged, the nail may grow back with a rough or abnormal shape. In some cases the nail may not grow back at all. There may be damage or a cut to the nail bed.
How long does it take for a big toe nail to grow back?
Fingernails and toenails, like hair, are composed of protein and fat and are not live tissue. Nails grow a bit more than one-tenth of an inch per month and require three to six months to completely regrow. (Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails.)
What happens when your toenail comes off?
Once the nail falls off, you will need to protect the nail bed from infection. Toenails can take several months to a year to regrow. Some treatment and prevention tips for toenails that have fallen off or are in the process of falling off include: Use pain medication as needed.
Should I go to the hospital if my nail ripped off?
For more serious nail injuries, you should go to an urgent care center or the emergency room. They will stop the bleeding and clean the wound. Usually, the nail and finger or toe will be numbed with medicine before it is treated.
Can thickened toenails be reversed?
Thick toenails can be reversed if the underlying cause is addressed or proper preventative measures are taken. Polishing rough surfaces to make them smoother is a great way to treat thick toenails. Avoid pedicures because they may cause fungal infection to flare up when cuticles are removed.
What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?
This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
What is the white stuff under my toenails?
Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails.
What does a fungus toenail look like?
In toenail fungus, the nail becomes thick and yellow and may show white spots and streaks. The condition, also called onychomycosis, becomes more common as you get older.
How do you get healthy toenails?
10 Tips For Growing Healthy Toenails
- Daily Cleansing. ...
- Moisturize. ...
- Frequent Trimming. ...
- Filing. ...
- Toenail Friendly Diet. ...
- Wearing Proper Shoes and Socks. ...
- Occasional Massage. ...
- Treat Yourself To Foot Soaks.
Can you scrape out toenail fungus?
Prescription Medicines
If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis.
What does Vicks VapoRub do for toenails?
Vicks VapoRub
Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus.
What cream softens toenails?
Helps soften thick, hardened nails for easier cutting & maintenance. This special formula contains pure aloe vera gel and softening agents to help temporarily soften thick, hard toenails. Rub it into your toenails at bedtime and in the morning they'll be easier to cut and file.
What is toe Jam?
What is toe jam, actually? Toe jam isn't a medical term. There is no formal medical term to describe the dead skin cells, sweat, sock lint and dirt that combine in the small and often cramped spaces between our toes. Toe jam can have the consistency of soft cheese or cake crumbs.
How do you fix one thick toenail?
Applying a small amount of melted coconut oil can help heal thick yellow toenails. You can purchase over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal nail creams and ointments. Be sure to clip and clean your nails before use to make sure the creams reach deeper layers. Laser therapy can be used to treat a fungal toenail infection.
How does a podiatrist treat thick toenails?
Treatment for Thickened Nails:
- Resection and thinning of the nail by a podiatrist.
- Nail scrapings may be taken for fungal culture.
- Permanent or temporary surgical removal of the nail.