help-I have no toe nail! - Nail Problems Message Board

caitlin07 · 08-01-2007, 10:12 AM

after a big frustration with my ingrown big toe nails, my right big toenail died after the 2nd surgery killed it. my new dr says that the dead nail has to be removed and a new one won't grow back. apparently the medicine from the surgery killed off the entire root-not just the area he was removing. i talked to the guy at the nail salon and he said he wouldn't glue a fake nail onto skin even if there was a "hard skin" area after the surgery bc of risk of infection. the nail is being removed next week and i really don't want to go the rest of my life without a nail there. please help!

Marti · 08-02-2007, 06:54 PM

Once the root is entirely removed, a new nail cannot grow because there is nothing there to develop new nail plate cells. I agree with the nail technician about not applying an artificial nail to the exposed skin. You could risk the possibility of infection because it is nearly impossible to get an air-tight seal to skin, but you would also risk the possibility of an allergic reaction after repeated and prolonged skin exposure. Sorry to say that there is no help for this one. Yes, you will be minus that nail for the rest of your life.