What causes the toenail to detach from the nail bed? Onycholysis is when the toenail lifts or separates from the nail bed. It can be unsightly and sometimes painful. The most common cause for the toenail to separate is trauma. It can also be caused by an underlying health condition. This usually happens gradually. If it is due to trauma, it can be painful. If it is due to an underlying health condition, you may not feel any pain.
When the nail detaches itself from the nail bed, you are at risk of infection. The skin under the nail is delicate and vulnerable. An infection could lead to a more serious problem and spread to other areas.
Causes of Nail Bed Separation:
- Trauma – this is the most common cause of nails detaching from the nail bed. There are two types of trauma that cause this problem. The first one is Acute trauma. This happens when the nail is injured over and over again. This is common in athletes, especially runners. Another type is blunt trauma. This is when you drop something heavy on your toe or bang it against something. This causes the nail to tear away from the nail bed.
- Acrylic Nails – wearing fake or acrylic nails harms the nail bed with the chemical and glues used. The nail technician may misapply the glue or apply too much and cause damage to the toenail. The chemicals used can also trigger an allergic reaction and damage the nail bed. If you get acrylic nails often and wear them for long periods of time, your nails don’t get the chance to breathe. This will make it easy for moisture to be trapped underneath the nail bed and cause a fungal infection.
- Toenail Fungus – If you have a fungal infection, debris can build up underneath the toenail. This will create pressure pushing the toenail away from the nail bed. If left untreated, it gets worse and the nail may eventually fall off.
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed. This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication.
Our nail doctor in New York, NY recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain.
If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (347) 666-8095 our New York, NY location, or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
