Toe Nail Coming Off the Nail Bed [Causes, Remedies & Best Treatment!]
Do you have a big toe nail coming off the nail bed? 95% of the time it is either do to trauma (which could be repeated rubbing!) or even toenail fungus!
Look:
Red & black toenail pain can be improved with a few simple treatment changes.
We are foot doctors & we see this problem get better almost every day.
The goal is to solve this problem without medication or surgery if at all possible.
So, let’s GO!
Table of Contents
Red or Black Toenail Picture & Photo Gallery:
Look:
A red toenail generally means fresh blood or a fresh injury. This can be called a toenail hematoma, or fresh blood from repetitive irritation.
A black toenail is generally more dried blood, that has crested underneath the toenail.
Very infrequently can a black toenail be something more dangerous like melanoma.
It is also possible for your toenail to the infected with toenail fungus, this can also then result in rubbing and bleeding after the toenail fungus.
If there is toenail fungus, this is usually more of a brown or yellow color.
Please click on the photo gallery for descriptions & full size photos!
Please click on the photo gallery for descriptions & full size photos!
Toe Nail Coming Off the Nail Bed Overview:
The 95% most common causes of the big toe nail coming off the nail bed is due to a traumatic injury, light rubbing of the toenail.
This can occur within your shoe that you never even noticed, a very severe fungal infection or in some cases we may never know the reason it fell off.
Will the Toenail loose toenail grow back?
The nail will almost always grow back and you shouldn’t get too worried
Follow the guide below and you should be in great shape!
There is a combination of a black streaks (Dry blood) and white chalky keratin granulations on the toenail. After trimming this toenail back, there was healthy toenail underneath all of this!
Why is the Toenail Black?
The nail usually appears discolored because it is filling up with blood underneath the nail as it is separating from the skin underneath it.
Once the separation has began it is a normal process and at this point there are a few things that you can do to limit more pain or injury.
Right big toe nail fungus with right 2nd toe blood.
The Most Common Causes:
1) Trauma is the number one cause of nail loss:
How to know if you have a stubbed vs broken big toe guide!
First confirm that you have actually experienced trauma, this is usually pretty evident because you stubbed your toe really hard or dropped something really heavy onto your toe.
You will experience the following symptoms:
Pain.
Bleeding under the nail bed leading to red streaks or discoloration under the nail.
Eventual loosening of the nail from the nail bed as the blood fills under the nail and you are able to evaluate the damage.
Both big toe joints are sore from rubbing due to tight shoes.
Symptoms:
This usually means your shoes are too tight.
Very common in people who are on their feet all day.
Pain isn’t always there!
If you spend the majority of your time on your feet and you think it may have been possible that your toenail has been pressuring up against the front of your shoe then this is highly possible.
This results in blistering under the toenail leading to the detachment of the nail- with or without pain!
A pair of good supportive shoes with orthotics are the best treatment options for reducing rubbing on your toes. This will reduce mechanical friction on the toes.
Most likely to get it:
People buying new shoes.
Tight shoes in the forefoot.
New exercise routine.
Training for a marathon.
New exercise class.
Going from little exercise to a great deal of exercise.
The nails would have been thick, hard and discolored yellow or orange for a period of time before the nail separated. This is a very common and treatable cause of nail separation.
Recommended Products For Toenail Fungus On a Loose Toenail:
Just remember that the key to healing a loose toenail is to first trim it and cut it off properly!
If you don’t trim and cut out the loose dead portion, you won’t have any success no matter what.
Once you are able to trim and remove the dead dry skin around the toenail, consider foot soaks and applying anti-fungal solutions.
These are our recommended choices for toenail repair!
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Best Toenail Repair Pen.
Top Choice For Direct Toenail Application.
Top Choice For Cream For Toenails & Webspaces.
Great Option For Foot Soak.
Great Tea Tree Oil Treatment
Price:
$27.99
$19.90
$17.99
$17.97
$21.99
Overview:
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Tea Tree Oil is well studied and an all natural anti-fungal treatment.
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Great reviews at 4.7/5 at 500+ overall reviews. Well proven and natural option.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Not the greatest amount of solution, the all natural solutions can be more expensive.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Although tea tree oil does nave studies and is antifungal, it is not an FDA approved medication and not studied for this specific use.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
Pros:
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Cons:
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Pros:
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Cons:
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Pros:
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Cons:
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
The priority in this situation is to accept that the nail has been lost and that you will need to wait until you can grow out a new nail.
Step 1) Acceptance!
Accept that the nail is gone and you will have to wait for it to grow back 1 millimeter per month or so.
This means 6-9 months if the entire toenail has fallen off (the fingernails grow back a little bit faster).
Unfortunately there is not too much that can be done to speed up the growth of the nail beyond leading a healthy lifestyle and getting lots of exercise and sun(basically anything that boosts your metabolism).
In this patient, there is both white streaks and black streaks on the same toenail. This is built up dry blood under the toenail, with dehydrated toenail on top of the nail.
Step 2) Treat The Pain:
If the toe is really painful – apply ice for 15-20 mins until it starts to get numb. The faster you decrease the swelling over the first couple of days, the faster the toenail can begin to grow.
Take some anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or aspirin to prevent long lasting pain. Initially elevate the foot to decrease the pain as well. Once the pain is low enough you will be able to start trimming the nail down.
Step 3) Trim The Nail:
The nail should be trimmed back as far as it is still attached, the danger here is that if you hit the nail again it will bend back and rip out with the tissue attached to it. OUCH! Avoid this serious and painful complication by trimming back early.
If you cannot get to all the blood underneath the nail out and it is not painful then it is ok to let it just grow out over the next 6-9 months, but if it is really painful over a period of time then you should go to the podiatrist to get the blood drained(pain is due to pressure under the nail).
As the toenail polish is trimmed away, you can see the white chalky toenail substance already. This is a very thick buildup of keratin granulations.
Step 4) Smooth The Nail:
Use a nail file, emery board or pumice stone to smooth out the remainder of the nail after it has been trimmed back so that it doesn’t get caught on your socks.
How to Fix Severe Toenail Fungus? The trick is to trim as much of the loose thick dead toenail as possible first. The goal is to remove 95% of the toenail fungus before you even need to use any medication or buy anything!
Step 5)Prevent Infection:
Apply some antibiotic ointment- neosporin and triple antibiotic ointment work very well here. Use some water to wash out the bloody area and apply the antibiotic ointment and then cover it with a band-aid.
If the toe is getting red hot and swollen, you experience nausea, fever or redness moving up the toe or throbbing pain that lasts past the icing, anti-inflammatory medication and elevation then you likely have an infection. Get yourself to a podiatrist or a emergency room as soon as possible.
This is the same foot with toenail fungus after trimming the toenails. Simply trimming the toenail fungus can remove 95% or more of the fungus, then you can wipe out the rest with creams. This is where a podiatrist can help!
Step 6) Compression and Protection:
If you are going to continue running or working on that foot put some heavy duty duct tape or athletic tape over the band-aid.
If you your feet are in danger at work, wear steel toe boots.
If you are exercising heavily, get fitted for some better shoes.
Step 7) Wait for the Toenail to Grow Back:
Unless you damaged the nail matrix(the base of the nail) then it should grow back every time. The long term problems may be that the nail does not look exactly as it once did. It may curve more or be thicker- it is essential a scar of the nail bed. There are ways to treat it at this point. check out our guide on how to handle long nails.
Home Prevention Products:
Treat your fungal nails or joggers toe as outlined above.
Get fitted for for your proper shoe size.
Trim your toenails straight across.
Get proper socks.
Use athletic tape or duct tape to cover the nail.
These are our favorite products to treat toenail fungus at home.
Make sure you read the reviews and see if it is good for you!
How to fix toenail fungus:
There are many different types of toenail damage.
In our experience, about 90% or more is related to toenail fungus.
The key to toenail fungus is to trim it is much as possible, and file that nailed down.
These products are not meant to replace prescription drugs or medical treatment equipment.
If you are able to do that, you have to make sure you can kill fungus the rest of the way.
The best way to do that is to soak exfoliate the affected toenail skin. So, consider foot soaks.
At the same time you have to apply antifungal medication such as these medications recommended here, or the toenail repair pens
Best Toenail Repair Products:
Best Toenail Repair Pen.
Top Choice For Direct Toenail Application.
Top Choice For Cream For Toenails & Webspaces.
Great Option For Foot Soak.
Great Tea Tree Oil Treatment
Price:
$27.99
$19.90
$17.99
$17.97
$21.99
Overview:
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Tea Tree Oil is well studied and an all natural anti-fungal treatment.
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Great reviews at 4.7/5 at 500+ overall reviews. Well proven and natural option.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Not the greatest amount of solution, the all natural solutions can be more expensive.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Although tea tree oil does nave studies and is antifungal, it is not an FDA approved medication and not studied for this specific use.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
4 Pens with quick dry application that leaves a sealing lid on top. Easy to store and apply. Key is still to trim/file the toenail first!
Pros:
Easy to use, quick drying. This fills into the cracks and seals them with minimal mess. This is great for sealing even dehydrated keratin granulations.
Cons:
0% chance of working if your toenail is loose and has no blood supply. Make sure you trim and file any loose finger or toenail. Otherwise “0% CHANCE OF WORKING!” You cannot restore a dead toenail without blood flow.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
All natural option that is toxic to fungus. This is similar to tea tree oil in that respect but can be more effective. You still need to exfoliate dead skin and trim thick toenails.
Pros:
All natural, relatively cost effective. 1,000s of reviews with excellent results. Very clean and quick drying, easy to apply.
Cons:
Small amount and a little more expensive than some other options. Once more has 0% chance of working if your goal is to heal a dead, detached toenail or dry skin. Are you noticing this is a trend? This is really the key!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
All natural cream option. This is a good option compared to some of the quick dry gels. This can be used on the skin surrounding your toenails.
Pros:
Relatively cost effective. All natural tea tree oil that is proven toxic to fungus. Can be used on surrounding skin as well.
Cons:
Still more expensive than other options. Can get messy all over different areas of your foot. Key is still debride and cleaning your dry dead toenails and skin. TRIM them!
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Safe, cost effective and relaxing all at the same time! This needs to be used in a 20 minute foot soak. Works well for exfoliating loose skin/toenail as well as softening.
Pros:
Very safe, little risk, low cost and very effective if used correctly. The key is to use it as an aid to soften and exfoliate loose/dry dead skin and toenail.
Cons:
It once more has 0% chance working if you are trying to save loose and dead crusty skin. Fungus will always grow on this if no blood flow. It can not regenerate dead skin, only exfoliate it.
Crucial Tips:
There is some evidence that these active ingredients work, just be aware: These are not FDA approved and massively studied medications!
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
It is also very important to fix your foot fungus.
Even if you cure your toenail fungus, keep your toenails trimmed in healthy: it is possible for your foot fungus to spread back into toenails.
It’s not a far journey from skin fungus to jump onto your toenails again.
So make sure you treat your foot fungus, as well as your toenail fungus.
Best Foot Fungus Products
Best Fungus Combo (Foot Soak, Body Wash & Toe Ointment)
Best Foot Powder Option For Shoes.
Best Shower Body Wash
Best choice for Foot Bath Mix
Best & Most Cost Effective Foot Soak Tub.
Price:
$30.74
$30.65
$15.30
$14.65
$14.97
Overview:
This is almost everything you need for foot fungus! This has a foot soak powder, body wash for showering and toenail ointment.
3 pack of foot powder spray. This is great for shoes and feet, but not as practical outside the foot or shoe.
Great cost effective shower wash.
Mix of epsom salts, tea tree oil for a good price.
This is a cost effective tub for foot soaks. You still need to also buy a foot soak powder or solution!
Pros:
Great cost ($50+ separately), $29 in the bundle. Tea tree oil has proven antifungal benefits. Excellent reviews and good overall cost value.
If you sweat in your shoes, this is your best bet. This will soak up sweat and kill fungus. Very effective and excellent Amazon reviews. 3 pack online is the price of one bottle at the store.
Over 5,000 5 star amazon reviews. Great reviews, medically proven component in tea tree oil. All natural with excellent results.
Epsom salts and tea tree oil have proven effect. Epsom salts make your loose skin flake off and tea tree oil is anti-fungal. Great price and near 5 star review on Amazon.
Excellent choice for cost effective foot soak tub. Top notch reviews on amazon, great price.
Cons:
The combo could be more than you need. You still need a foot bath tub.
Powder makes a big mess. Good for shoes but it can get powder inside your shoes. Can have chemical like smell.
Can be more expensive than regular soap. It may not be enough by itself without soaking or especially further toenail treatment.
Foot soak by itself may not be enough to fix your problem, but a component. You also need a foot tub.
Not much downsides, it’s a tub! But you have to get foot soak powder or antifungal solution separately.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
3 pack of foot powder spray. This is great for shoes and feet, but not as practical outside the foot or shoe.
Pros:
If you sweat in your shoes, this is your best bet. This will soak up sweat and kill fungus. Very effective and excellent Amazon reviews. 3 pack online is the price of one bottle at the store.
Cons:
Powder makes a big mess. Good for shoes but it can get powder inside your shoes. Can have chemical like smell.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Mix of epsom salts, tea tree oil for a good price.
Pros:
Epsom salts and tea tree oil have proven effect. Epsom salts make your loose skin flake off and tea tree oil is anti-fungal. Great price and near 5 star review on Amazon.
Cons:
Foot soak by itself may not be enough to fix your problem, but a component. You also need a foot tub.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
You definitely want to get great shoes and sandals for your toenail fungus and foot fungus.
Specifically when you are in a communal shower, or pool you want to get a good pair of sandals. We compiled a great list of our recommended orthotic flip-flops.
You also want to get new breathable shoes, that are not covered in sweat and that have mesh around the toes.
Specifically good pairs of running shoes have mesh where your toes are, this prevents your toenails from rubbing, and prevents them from dreaming on the front of the foot.
Click on the below link to see which shoes we recommend for your toenail fungus and foot fungus.
One important thing to keep in mind is that toenail fungus will have a hard time getting better if you still having foot fungus all over your foot and ankle.
Athlete’s Foot Treatment:
Best Foot Fungus Products
Best Fungus Combo (Foot Soak, Body Wash & Toe Ointment)
Best Foot Powder Option For Shoes.
Best Shower Body Wash
Best choice for Foot Bath Mix
Best & Most Cost Effective Foot Soak Tub.
Price:
$30.74
$30.65
$15.30
$14.65
$14.97
Overview:
This is almost everything you need for foot fungus! This has a foot soak powder, body wash for showering and toenail ointment.
3 pack of foot powder spray. This is great for shoes and feet, but not as practical outside the foot or shoe.
Great cost effective shower wash.
Mix of epsom salts, tea tree oil for a good price.
This is a cost effective tub for foot soaks. You still need to also buy a foot soak powder or solution!
Pros:
Great cost ($50+ separately), $29 in the bundle. Tea tree oil has proven antifungal benefits. Excellent reviews and good overall cost value.
If you sweat in your shoes, this is your best bet. This will soak up sweat and kill fungus. Very effective and excellent Amazon reviews. 3 pack online is the price of one bottle at the store.
Over 5,000 5 star amazon reviews. Great reviews, medically proven component in tea tree oil. All natural with excellent results.
Epsom salts and tea tree oil have proven effect. Epsom salts make your loose skin flake off and tea tree oil is anti-fungal. Great price and near 5 star review on Amazon.
Excellent choice for cost effective foot soak tub. Top notch reviews on amazon, great price.
Cons:
The combo could be more than you need. You still need a foot bath tub.
Powder makes a big mess. Good for shoes but it can get powder inside your shoes. Can have chemical like smell.
Can be more expensive than regular soap. It may not be enough by itself without soaking or especially further toenail treatment.
Foot soak by itself may not be enough to fix your problem, but a component. You also need a foot tub.
Not much downsides, it’s a tub! But you have to get foot soak powder or antifungal solution separately.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
3 pack of foot powder spray. This is great for shoes and feet, but not as practical outside the foot or shoe.
Pros:
If you sweat in your shoes, this is your best bet. This will soak up sweat and kill fungus. Very effective and excellent Amazon reviews. 3 pack online is the price of one bottle at the store.
Cons:
Powder makes a big mess. Good for shoes but it can get powder inside your shoes. Can have chemical like smell.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):
Mix of epsom salts, tea tree oil for a good price.
Pros:
Epsom salts and tea tree oil have proven effect. Epsom salts make your loose skin flake off and tea tree oil is anti-fungal. Great price and near 5 star review on Amazon.
Cons:
Foot soak by itself may not be enough to fix your problem, but a component. You also need a foot tub.
Affiliate Link (Buying through these links will connect you to Amazon):