How to Treat 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.

You have a few options for treating a torn nail: You can tape the torn part back into position and then trim it off as the nail begins to grow, or you can clip off the torn portion right away at a slight outward angle so the nail grows back normally. If you try the first option and the tear is small, you can apply clear nail polish to prevent the nail from tearing further and then trim the nail as it grows [sources: Aetna InteliHealth, Mayo Clinic, Rouzier].

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. As with a torn nail, you can tape the nail in place while you wait for the new nail to grow, trimming it as needed. You may also want to consider having the separated nail removed completely and bandaging the exposed nail bed while you wait. A physician can help you determine the best solution for you. If your nail tears or separates because of an infection, then you need to see a doctor to treat it. Keeping the area around your nails dry can help prevent an infection from developing [sources: Aetna InteliHealth, Mayo Clinic, Rouzier].

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.

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]. You can apply a nail hardener to keep your nails strong and help them grow faster, but you should avoid nail products that contain toluene sulfonamide, formaldehyde, alcohol, acetone or dibutyl phthalate -- these chemicals can make your nails weaker rather than stronger [source: Mayo Clinic].

While regrowing your nails, you can take some simple steps to keep them healthy and prevent future nail injuries. First, wear shoes that don't constrict your toenails -- they should be wide enough for your toes to wiggle around. Second, keep your nails neat and trim them often -- long nails are more likely to get caught and tear. Also, avoid biting and nibbling at your nails because this can increase the likelihood of tearing as well [source: Aetna InteliHealth].

You can also keep your nails healthy by moisturizing them with lotions and creams that contain humectants such as urea, phospholipids and lactic acid. Humectants retain moisture in your nails, helping prevent them from cracking. If you have torn or separated fingernails, wear gloves when washing dishes and cleaning to reduce the possibility of infection [source: Mayo Clinic].

Keeping your nails neat and healthy will reduce the likelihood of tearing them and separating them from the nail bed. For more information on treating torn nails, check out the links on the next page.