Nail Falling Off: Causes, Can You Pull It Off, How Many Months to Regrow, and Warning Signs, Explained by a Dermatologist
Nail shedding is when the nail plate separates from the tissue that holds it and comes off, completely or in part. Medically it is divided into two types by where the separation starts: nail loss from the base (onychomadesis), where the nail plate detaches from the nail root and is pushed out whole by the new nail, and nail lifting or loss from the tip (onycholysis), where the plate lifts off the nail bed starting at the free edge and moving back toward the base. The five most common causes are injury with bleeding under the nail · high fever or hand, foot and mouth disease · nail fungus · nail psoriasis · and medication side effects
The good news is that most nails grow back as long as the nail root (nail matrix) beneath the skin at the base of the nail has not been destroyed. Fingernails take about 4–6 months and toenails 12–18 months. What decides whether the new nail is smooth or misshapen is care in the first 2 weeks and finding the cause. This article answers the three questions patients ask most, can I pull it off · how many months to regrow · what should I apply, and lists the signs that should not be left to wait.
What is nail shedding, and what counts as a nail coming off
A healthy nail is anchored at two points. The first is the nail root, hidden under the skin at the base of the nail, which works as the factory that makes the nail plate and keeps pushing it out. The second is the nail bed, the pink skin under the plate, to which the plate adheres along its whole length. The nail comes off when either point is damaged, and these three questions help you tell which at home.
Where does the gap start? If it starts with a crosswise groove or a nail tilting up at the base, the nail root stopped working for a time. If it starts with cloudy white at the tip, something has got in between the nail plate and the nail bed.
One nail or several? One nail is usually a local problem such as injury, fungus, or inflammation around the nail. Several at once usually point to a whole-body cause such as fever, medication, hand, foot and mouth disease, psoriasis, or thyroid disease.
What happened 1–2 months ago? High fever, serious illness, surgery, a new medication, or a child with hand, foot and mouth disease is the answer for almost every case of nail loss from the base.
These two mechanisms look similar from the outside but tell different stories and are treated differently, so we explain them one at a time.
Nail loss from the base (Onychomadesis): the nail root pauses production
Appearance It starts as a deep crosswise groove at the base of the nail (Beau's line), or the base of the nail lifts into a white ridge. A thin new nail can usually be seen already growing under the groove. The old plate is slowly pushed forward and comes off whole within a few weeks. It is often on several nails at once, on both hands and feet, painless or only mildly painful, without bleeding, and the grooves sit the same distance from the base on every nail.
Causes The nail root temporarily stops making nail because of an event that affects the whole body: high fever, hand, foot and mouth disease (most common in young children), severe illness or major surgery, chemotherapy, retinoid drugs, some anti-seizure drugs, Kawasaki disease, and the severe drug allergy Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Less often it affects a single nail after a hard blow to the nail base or inflammation around the nail that spreads to the root.
Urgency Low. If the cause was a fever or hand, foot and mouth disease that has already passed, the new nail grows in on its own and no further treatment is needed.
When to see a doctor Nail loss from the base with no fever or illness in the previous 1–3 months, repeated episodes, other symptoms such as weight loss, heavy hair loss, or a body rash, or a new medication you suspect is the cause.
Nail lifting and loss from the tip (Onycholysis): the plate lifts off the nail bed
Appearance The tip or sides of the nail turn cloudy white or yellow because air gets between the nail plate and the nail bed. The border of the lifted part is a curved, uneven line that slowly retreats toward the base over weeks to months. The lifted part is not painful when pressed but easily collects dirt. It can affect one nail or several. If Pseudomonas bacteria settle under the nail, it looks green.
Causes Repeated force on the nail tip (long nails catching on table edges, typing, digging under the nail with sharp objects, gel or acrylic nails), moisture and chemicals (washing dishes, cleaning products), nail fungus, psoriasis, an overactive thyroid, iron deficiency, and drugs that make the nails sensitive to light (photo-onycholysis), such as tetracycline antibiotics.
Urgency Low to moderate. It is not an emergency, but the longer it is left, the more the nail bed under the lifted part gradually turns into ordinary skin that the nail can no longer reattach to.
When to see a doctor The lifting keeps widening after 6–8 weeks despite avoiding force and moisture · a thick, discoloured nail with yellow debris under it (suspected fungus) · small pits in the nail or a psoriasis rash · palpitations, tremor, or weight loss (suspected thyroid problem) · several nails lifting after starting a new medication
Nail loss after injury and bleeding under the nail
This is the number one cause of nail loss in a single nail in the general population, from doors slamming on fingers, heavy objects dropping, stubbing against furniture, and repeated pressure from tight shoes when running downhill or walking far, which runners call runner's toe.
Mechanism The impact tears blood vessels under the nail and blood pools between the nail plate and the nail bed. It looks dark red, then a purple nail, then black within 1–2 days. The trapped blood pushes the plate off the nail bed. If the area is large, the nail often lifts completely and comes off over several weeks to 2–3 months, with a new nail growing underneath.
What to do in the first 48 hours
Apply a cold compress right away for 15–20 minutes at a time and raise the hand or foot to reduce bleeding under the nail.
If the blood covers more than about a quarter of the nail, or there is severe throbbing pain, see a doctor within 24–48 hours. The doctor makes a small hole in the nail plate to let the blood drain (trephination), which relieves pain immediately and lowers the chance of the nail coming off. It works well only while the blood has not yet clotted.
Do not drill it yourself with a needle or a heated paper clip, because you cannot judge the depth and you risk infection.
For a hard blow, a misshapen fingertip, or unusually severe pain, get an X-ray because a cracked fingertip bone is often present, and an open wound with a fracture needs antibiotics.
Keep watching. The bruise should move toward the tip along with the growing nail and have a clear edge. If the dark mark stays in the same place, widens, or spreads into the skin around the nail without any history of injury, it must be checked to rule out skin cancer under the nail. Read how to tell them apart in detail at Black nail: causes and is it dangerous. For toenail pain from shoes that has not reached the bleeding stage, read Toenail pain that is not an ingrown nail.
Nail loss after high fever or hand, foot and mouth disease
Many parents are alarmed when a healthy child loses several nails one after another. Looking back, they usually find that 3–8 weeks earlier the child had hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), the most common cause of nail loss from the base in children, especially Coxsackievirus A6, which causes nail loss more often than other strains and can also occur in infected adults.
What happens The virus and fever make the nail root stop producing nail for a while. After recovery the root restarts, and the new nail pushes out the old interrupted one. So the crosswise groove at the base appears first, then the old nail comes off. Usually 2–10 nails are affected, on both hands and feet, painless and without bleeding.
What to do Almost nothing. Trim the hanging edge of the old nail short so it does not catch on clothing, and have active children wear socks or closed shoes. New nails grow quickly in children and mostly return to normal within 1–4 months with no long-term effect. For care while the child is still ill, read Hand, foot and mouth disease: symptoms, causes and caring for your child.
High fever from other causes such as dengue fever, influenza, pneumonia, or major surgery can cause Beau's lines or nail loss from the base by the same mechanism. The distance of the groove from the nail base roughly tells when the event happened. Fingernails grow about 3 mm per month, so a groove 6 mm from the base matches an event about 2 months ago.
How nail fungus causes nails to come off
Nail fungus is a leading cause of nail lifting in toenails, especially the big toe. The fungus enters through the tip or side of the nail, digests keratin, and builds up thick yellow debris under the nail. The debris wedges between the plate and the nail bed, pushing the nail up, making it thick and brittle, and eventually breaking it off in pieces.
Clues that differ from injury-related nail loss
Develops gradually over many months, with no remembered injury
Nail becomes thicker, cloudy yellow-brown, and rough, with crumbly debris underneath
Often accompanied by fungus on the sole skin or between the toes (athlete's foot)
Can spread from one toe to another, and is often seen in people with damp feet or diabetes
Treatment The fungus must be confirmed first by scraping debris from under the nail for microscopy or culture, because about half of thick yellow nails are not caused by fungus (yellow nails have several other causes; read Yellow nails: causes). Once confirmed, mild cases that do not reach the nail base use antifungal nail lacquer continuously for several months. Extensive cases or those reaching the nail root use oral medication as prescribed by the doctor, generally about 6 weeks for fingernails and 12 weeks for toenails. The part that has already come off does not return; you must wait for the new fungus-free nail to grow out, which takes as long as the growth cycle of that digit.
Nail psoriasis: lifting with a red-orange border
About half of people with psoriasis have nail symptoms, and some have them even before any skin rash. Nail psoriasis lifts the nail because inflammation of the nail bed builds a thick layer of scale that pushes the plate up. It looks so much like fungus that doctors themselves have to scrape and test to tell them apart.
Signs pointing to psoriasis rather than fungus
Small pits scattered across the nail surface as if pricked by a pinpoint
Orange-brown spots under the nail like oil drops (oil-drop sign) and a red-orange border at the edge of the lifted part
Fine red-brown lines running lengthwise under the nail from ruptured capillaries
A thick red rash with silvery scale on the elbows, knees, or scalp, or joint swelling, joint pain, or morning back pain
Nail psoriasis is linked to psoriatic arthritis, so doctors always ask about the joints too. Treatment uses high-potency topical medication as prescribed, injections at the nail base, or oral medication and biologics for severe cases, together with keeping the nails short and avoiding trauma, because injury triggers psoriasis in that nail.
Medications, chemotherapy, and retinoids that cause nail loss
When several nails lift or come off together 1–3 months after starting a new medication, always suspect the drug first. Common groups:
Chemotherapy, especially taxanes used in breast and lung cancer, causes nail lifting, bleeding under the nails, pus under the nails, and loss of several nails, as well as multiple crosswise grooves matching the number of treatment cycles. Wearing cold gloves and socks during infusion reduces severity in some patients.
Oral retinoids used for severe acne and psoriasis make nails thin, brittle, and lifted, and cause inflammation around the nail. Most improve after stopping the drug.
Photosensitising drugs such as tetracycline antibiotics and psoralen cause nail lifting after strong sun exposure, usually preceded by nail pain and occurring about 2–3 weeks after sun exposure.
Some anti-seizure drugs, some antibiotics, and drugs in other groups can cause it but less often.
Important Never stop a medication on your own, especially cancer treatment. Tell the prescribing doctor. Most cases are managed with nail care, sun protection, and local treatment. The nail returns to normal in the next growth cycle after the course of the drug is finished.
Thyroid disease and nutritional deficiency
The nail is an organ that constantly renews itself, so it reflects whole-body conditions faster than people think.
Overactive thyroid The nail grows fast, is soft, and lifts from the tip, especially on the ring finger (Plummer's nail). Often with palpitations, tremor, weight loss, heat intolerance, and heavy sweating.
Underactive thyroid The nail grows slowly, is brittle, splits into layers, and has lengthwise ridges, together with dry skin, hair loss, fatigue, and feeling cold easily.
Iron deficiency The nail is thin, brittle, spoon-shaped (koilonychia), and may lift from the tip. Often with fatigue, pallor, and heavy periods.
Protein or zinc deficiency, or very rapid weight loss The nail root pauses production as in high fever, causing crosswise grooves or nail loss from the base on several nails.
If several nails come off or lift and no local cause is found, the doctor may order blood tests for thyroid function and iron levels. Supplements marketed for nail health have no evidence of benefit in people who are not truly deficient.
What purple, green, and black nails mean
The colour of a nail that is about to come off says a lot about the cause and separates minor problems from urgent ones at first sight.
Purple or dark red on one nail after injury = bleeding under the nail. The colour changes from red to purple to dark brown-black within a few days, then moves outward with the growing nail.
Purple or dark blue on all nails at once, especially with bluish lips and breathlessness = low blood oxygen (cyanosis). Go to the hospital immediately; this is not a nail problem.
Fingertips turning white, then purple, then red in the cold or under stress = Raynaud phenomenon. Check for connective tissue disease if it happens often or there are sores on the fingertips.
Green or blackish-green under a lifted nail = Pseudomonas bacteria (green nail syndrome), which likes the moisture trapped under a lifted nail. Seen in people whose hands are often wet or who wear nail extensions. The green comes from a pigment the bacteria make; it is not fungus.
A black or brown lengthwise band from base to tip that does not move, with no history of injury, especially on one nail, widening, or with colour spreading into the skin around the nail = must be checked to rule out skin cancer under the nail. Read Black nail
For a green nail, what works is keeping the area under the nail dry, trimming away all the lifted part, avoiding soaking, and wearing gloves. The doctor may also advise soaks in diluted vinegar or a topical antibiotic. Most cases improve within a few weeks once the area under the nail is truly dry.
Half-detached, hanging nail: can I pull it off? The hanging nail protocol
This is the most asked question. The short answer is do not pull. A nail that is still partly attached is acting as a natural dressing and a splint for the nail bed. Yanking it tears the nail bed, hurts a lot, causes bleeding, and risks the new nail growing in misshapen.
Follow this order
Wash with clean water or saline and pat dry. Do not pour alcohol or hydrogen peroxide onto the nail bed.
Trim only the part that has truly come off with clean nail clippers. Cut the hanging edge that catches on things, leaving every part that is still attached to the skin.
Keep the part that is still attached Lay the nail plate back over the nail bed in its original position, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment, cover with a non-stick dressing, and tape it so the plate does not move.
Change the dressing once a day or when wet, for 7–10 days, until the nail bed is dry and no longer painful to touch.
Do not soak for long when washing dishes, swimming, or taking a bath, because water softens the wound and makes infection easy. Normal showers are fine; pat dry afterward.
Wear open-toed or loose shoes for a toenail, and avoid running until it no longer hurts.
Check tetanus vaccination if the wound is open and the last dose was more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years for a dirty wound.
When a doctor should remove it More than half the nail is off and the rest is attached only at the base · the plate has split in two, deep down to the nail bed · the nail bed is torn or bleeding will not stop · the blood collection covers more than half the nail · the fingertip is misshapen · or you have diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or low immunity. The doctor injects local anaesthetic at the base of the finger, removes the nail carefully, sutures the nail bed if torn, and often places the original plate or a substitute material back under the skin at the nail base to stop that skin from healing onto the nail bed, which is one cause of a misshapen new nail.
Caring for the nail bed after the nail comes off, day by day
A newly exposed nail bed is very sensitive because it is dense with nerve endings, but this skin hardens and becomes dull within 1–2 weeks.
Days 1–3 Pain and stinging are at their worst. Wash with clean water 1–2 times a day, apply petroleum jelly, cover with a non-stick dressing, and keep it raised. You may take paracetamol for pain as directed on the label.
Days 4–10 Pain clearly lessens. The nail bed changes from red to pink and begins to look matte. Keep it covered when going out; you can begin leaving it uncovered at home.
Weeks 2–4 The nail bed is matte and hardly painful. Apply moisturiser so the skin does not dry and crack. Beware of knocks, as there is no nail to protect it yet.
Months 1–2 The new nail appears from the base. It may be cloudy white with an uneven surface, which is normal for the first nail.
What not to do Repeatedly soak in hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, because it damages the cells that are repairing · apply artificial nails or nail polish over a nail bed with no nail · pick at scabs or pull the skin at the nail base · use strongly adhesive dressings that hurt when removed.
Signs of infection and inflamed nail folds (Paronychia)
A wound on the nail bed and nail folds is an entry point for bacteria. Most do not become infected if cared for as above, but see a doctor within 24 hours if you notice any of the following.
Redness, swelling, and warmth spreading beyond the nail edge into the finger, or a red line spreading up the arm or leg
Throbbing pain in time with the pulse that gets worse after day 2–3 instead of better
Pus, a bad smell, or cloudy yellow fluid seeping from under the nail or the nail fold
Fever, or tender swollen lymph nodes at the elbow, armpit, or groin
Diabetes, vascular disease, immunosuppressive drugs, or a wound with no improvement at all within 7 days
Inflammation of the skin around the nail with redness, swelling, and a collection of pus is called paronychia. The doctor may need to incise and drain the pus and give antibiotics. Importantly, infection that reaches the nail root can cause the new nail to grow permanently misshapen, so do not wait.
How many months for a lost nail to regrow? Timeline for fingernails and toenails
The nail always grows from the nail root at the base, not from the nail bed. So a nail that has come off will not reattach, but a whole new nail grows out to replace it.
Fingernails grow about 3 mm per month (about 0.1 mm per day). The new nail appears at the base within 4–8 weeks and reaches full length in 4–6 months. The middle finger grows faster than the little finger, and the dominant hand grows slightly faster.
Toenails grow much more slowly, about 1–1.5 mm per month. A big toenail takes 12–18 months to reach full length. Smaller toes may be somewhat faster.
Children and teenagers grow nails faster than older adults and have shorter nails, so they complete the nail sooner. Fingernails after hand, foot and mouth disease are usually normal within 1–4 months.
Growth slows with older age, cold weather, chronic illness, anaemia, underactive thyroid, poor blood supply to the fingertips (diabetes, narrowed arteries), and during chemotherapy.
While the new nail is still thin and soft In the first 2–3 months the new nail is still thin, uneven, and more brittle than normal. Keep it trimmed short, apply petroleum jelly or moisturiser at the nail base, and avoid manicures that involve buffing or soaking in chemicals.
When is it abnormally long? No new nail appears at the base after 3 months for a fingernail, or after 6 months for a toenail. See a doctor to assess the nail root.
What a misshapen regrown nail means
The first new nail after nail loss is often imperfect. What is normal and will improve by itself is a thin nail with slight crosswise ridges or waves, cloudy white colour, and slightly more thickness than before. The second growth cycle usually comes back smooth. To learn which kinds of waves are normal and which are not, read Wavy nails: causes
Signs that the nail root or nail bed has scarring and that you should see a dermatologist
A permanent lengthwise split or a nail that splits in two with every growth (split nail) = scarring at one spot of the nail root
Skin at the nail base growing forward and attaching to the nail bed (pterygium), so the nail cannot grow out in that area
A new nail that will not attach to the nail bed and stays lifted even as it grows longer = the nail bed has scarred, or an untreated disease is present
The nail grows out as a sharp spike, or not at all, after waiting the full expected time = the nail root is partly or completely destroyed
A very thick, curved, discoloured new nail may be fungus that has not cleared, or a curved nail (onychogryphosis) from a damaged nail bed
A black or brown lengthwise band on the new nail must be checked to rule out skin cancer under the nail
Scarring of the nail root is mostly hard to fix. Prevention is proper care when the nail comes off, not yanking it, having a doctor repair a torn nail bed, and treating infection quickly, which works far better than correcting things later.
Preventing nail loss from happening again
Shoes Leave about 1 cm of space in front of the big toe, or the width of your thumb. Lace snugly at the ankle so the foot does not slide forward downhill or when braking. Long-distance runners often need shoes half to one size larger than normal.
Cut toenails straight across, not too short, and cut them before long-distance runs or hikes. A nail that extends past the toe edge is hit by the shoe on every step.
Socks neither too thick nor too thin, always dry, and changed at once when wet.
Hands Wear rubber gloves lined with cotton for wet work or contact with chemicals. A lifted nail should be kept trimmed short and close until it reattaches.
Manicures Do not cut the cuticle, which is the germ seal for the nail root. Do not dig under the nail with sharp objects. Remove gel or acrylic by soaking off properly, without prying or scraping, and rest the nails between rounds.
Control the underlying disease Fungus, psoriasis, thyroid disease, diabetes. The nail reattaches and stays healthy only when the disease is under control.
During hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks Wash hands often and do not share cups and spoons. Nail loss after the illness cannot be prevented but is not dangerous and heals by itself.
When to see a dermatologist
See a doctor within 24–48 hours
A hard blow with bleeding under more than a quarter of the nail, severe throbbing pain, or a misshapen fingertip
More than half the nail is off and the nail bed is torn, or bleeding will not stop
Signs of infection: pus, fever, spreading red lines
Diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or low immunity
See a doctor at a routine appointment within 1–2 weeks
Nails lifting or coming off on several fingers with no history of injury, fever, or hand, foot and mouth disease
A thick, yellow nail with debris under it, suspected fungus. The earlier it is treated, the less the nail is damaged
Pits in the nail, a psoriasis rash, or joint pain
Nail lifting that has not improved in 6–8 weeks despite avoiding the causes
A black or brown lengthwise band that does not move, or colour spreading into the skin around the nail
A new nail growing misshapen after the full waiting time, or not growing at all
A dermatologist examines the nail with a dermatoscope, scrapes for fungus, and orders blood tests when needed, to find out which of the 5 main causes is responsible, because treatment differs greatly, from doing nothing at all to oral medication for several months. For other nail and skin conditions, read more at All skin condition articles
In short
Nail loss has 2 mechanisms: from the base (the nail root pauses production, usually on several nails, after fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, or medication) and from the tip (something gets under the nail, such as trapped blood, fungus, or psoriasis).
Do not pull. Trim only the part that has come off, keep the part that is still attached, apply petroleum jelly, cover with a non-stick dressing, and change it every day for 7–10 days. Do not soak in water.
Blood over more than a quarter of the nail with severe pain: have a doctor drain it within 48 hours. Never drill it yourself.
How many months to regrow: fingernails 4–6 months, toenails 12–18 months, faster in children. The first nail may be thin and wavy and will improve in the next cycle.
Colour points to the cause: purple or black after injury that moves outward = trapped blood · green under a lifted nail = bacteria · a black band that does not move = check to rule out cancer · purple on all nails with breathlessness = emergency
See a doctor when there are signs of infection, several nails come off for no reason, you suspect fungus or psoriasis, or the new nail is misshapen.
Frequently asked questions
Should I see a doctor if my nail comes off?
Not in every case. If several nails came off from the base after a fever or hand, foot and mouth disease 1–2 months ago, or the nail came off after a mild knock with no bleeding and the pain eases within 2–3 days of home care, you can wait for the nail to grow back. See a doctor when blood covers more than a quarter of the nail with throbbing pain, the nail bed is torn or bleeding will not stop, more than half the nail is off and needs removal, there is pus, spreading redness, or fever, several nails lift for no reason, you suspect fungus or psoriasis, you have diabetes or low immunity, and when the new nail does not grow or grows misshapen after the full waiting time.
What should I do when a nail comes off?
Wash with clean water or saline and pat dry. Do not pull or yank the part that is still attached. Trim only the edge of the nail that has already come off and catches on things, using clean scissors. Lay the remaining part back in its original position, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, cover with a non-stick dressing and tape it in place. Change it once a day or when wet for about 7–10 days. Do not soak for long, raise the hand or foot, and take paracetamol for pain in the first few days. Wear open-toed shoes for a toenail, and check your tetanus vaccination if the wound is open. If there is a lot of trapped blood, severe pain, or a torn nail bed, have a doctor drain the blood or remove the nail.
How many days until the pain from a lost nail goes away?
Pain at the nail bed is worst in the first 1–3 days, lessens clearly within 7–10 days as the nail bed begins to dry and harden, and usually almost completely goes in 2–3 weeks, although it stays sensitive to pressure or knocks until the new nail grows to cover it. If the pain increases after day 3 instead of easing, throbs in time with the pulse, or there is spreading redness and swelling or pus, these are signs of infection and you should see a doctor within 24 hours. Nails that come off from the base after a fever or hand, foot and mouth disease are usually not painful at all, because the new nail has already grown to cover the nail bed before the old nail comes off.
What causes a nail to come off?
The five most common causes are injury or repeated pressure leading to bleeding under the nail, most often on the big toenail of runners; high fever or hand, foot and mouth disease, which make the nail root pause production so that several nails come off from the base 3–8 weeks later; nail fungus, which builds debris under the nail until it lifts; nail psoriasis; and medication side effects, especially chemotherapy, retinoids, and photosensitising drugs. Less common causes include an overactive thyroid, iron deficiency, manicures that damage the nail, and inflammation around the nail that spreads to the root.
Will a lost nail grow back?
Almost always. The nail is made by the nail root under the skin at the base of the nail, not by the nail plate that came off. Fingernails grow about 3 mm per month, the new nail appears from the base in 4–8 weeks, and it is full length in 4–6 months. Toenails grow more slowly, about 1–1.5 mm per month, and a big toenail takes 12–18 months. The first nail may be thin, wavy, or cloudy white and usually becomes smoother in the next cycle. A nail may fail to grow or grow permanently misshapen if the nail root was destroyed by a severe blow, a deep infection, yanking the nail off, or an untreated chronic disease.
What should I apply when a nail comes off?
For a clean, uninfected wound after an injury, use only a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment to keep the wound moist and the dressing from sticking. No strong medication is needed, and you should not pour on alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or herbal remedies. There are three other groups of topical treatment chosen by cause: antifungal nail lacquer for confirmed nail fungus, topical steroids or vitamin D derivatives prescribed by a doctor for nail psoriasis, and topical antibiotics or diluted vinegar for green nails caused by bacteria. A nail that came off from the base after a fever needs no medication at all. The type and strength of any medication should be decided by a doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this article is for general understanding and is not a diagnosis or individual treatment. Assessment of nail abnormalities and the choice of medication should be made by a doctor.
Written by Dr. Patara Voravutinon, Dermatologist · Last reviewed September 7, 2026
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