Home Treatment for a Torn or Detached Nail

Try home treatment for a torn or detached nail:

• 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 an antibiotic ointment, such as Bacitracin, and cover the area with a nonstick adhesive 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 to 3 times each day, for the next 3 days. Reapply an antibiotic ointment, and cover with a fresh adhesive bandage.
• Keep the nail bed clean and covered with antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage until the nail bed is firm or the nail has grown back. Apply a new adhesive bandage whenever it gets wet.
• Watch for signs of infection such as increasing heat, redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, or pus.
• Remove an artificial nail if it separates from the nail bed. If you leave it on, the long, artificial nail can tear the nail bed.

Have a doctor trim your nail if you:

• Are not comfortable trimming the nail yourself.
• Have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or an immune system problem.