Damaged Nail ...Now I have a Growth - Nail Problems Message Board

coder · 12-16-2006, 03:17 AM

Just over a year ago, I got my finger caught in a fixture at work and tore the nail off. Over the next couple months, the nail seemed to grow back fine. As time went by and the nail was just about completely grown back, I noticed the skin on the tip of my finger began to get hard...almost like calloused. Then, due to the hardness of the skin and normal activity, it started to have painful splits. I tried using neosporin with bandages, but that did not help. It is now a year later and I still have this condition, which actually appears to be slowly spreading over more and more of the tip of my finger. The growth has taken on the appearance almost of a wart-like protrusion and is very painful, especially if I bang it even lightly. The nail itself has retreated slightly in the area of the growth, but otherwise is completely normal in appearance (ie, no thickening or discoloration...or any other symptoms typical of a nail fungus.)
I showed this to my primary care doctor and she told me that this sort of thing can happen if a nail bed is injured. She recommended me getting an emory board to keep the skin tissue filed down, not allowing it to get hardened which results in the painful cracking. I have been trying this regimen for a couple months. I do notice an improvement for a few days immediately after filing, but after about a week, the hardening and splitting invariably returns. It concerns me that this condition is gradually involving more and more of the end of my finger.

Any ideas or suggestions as to what is going on?

Thanks,
Lou

Marti · 12-16-2006, 10:13 AM

You could also have developed a nail 'wart' in this area which would give the same appearance. You might try seeing your dermatologist to see if he/she might recommend excising the area. In other words, they would cut away a small portion of the nail plate as well as some of the underlying nail bed. The nail would still grow, but the 'new' free edge would begin where the doctor excised the underlying nail bed.

You might also keep filing th eskin to keep it smooth and applying a good quality nail and cuticle. Botanical Oil is available in th enail department of Sally Beauty supply. Apply at least twice a day and always at night. Apply a small amount to each nail and massage into the skin and nails.