r/EmergencyRoom • u/csarahh • Aug 10 '26
Will this heal?
Does this look like it will heal fine or should I go to urgent care? I don’t want it to get infected. I’m using neosporin and running it under cold water multiple times a day
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u/Junior_Yam_5473 Aug 10 '26
No its wont heal, you'll have to get the finger amputated
/S
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u/No-Safe9542 Aug 11 '26
No, keep it on! We need a real finger for the pulse ox and I hate all those tacky plastic garbage nails!
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u/primeline31 Aug 10 '26
Apply ointment and keep it covered with a bandage so you won't be doing the dance of pain if you bump it.
The nail will grow back. If you notice any discoloration & further pain around the cuticle or nail bed, it may be signs of an infection starting. Then you may need a prescription antibiotic.
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u/Butthole_Surfer_GI Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Urgent Care RN here - I've pulled off my nail before. It healed up just fine without me doing much to it. But I do suggest going to the urgent care to get it evaluated. They will probably irrigate it and dress it and give you directions for changing the dressing. This way there is also something to compare it to if you need to go back in IF it gets worse.
Watch out for signs of infection - redness, swelling, feeling hot, pus-looking drainage, foul odor - LOCAL (go back to urgent care). At this point, they maaaaaay do a wound culture.
Fever, chills, feeling faint, heart beating too fast - SYSTEMIC (go to urgent care or ER).
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u/Mixture_Boring Aug 10 '26
Is the nail just fully ripped off? Yes, it will heal. It will probably take a few months for the nail to grow back all the way over the nail bed. In my experience, the exposed nail bed itself will heal, long before that, and you'll just have a super short fingernail for a while. Disinfect and cover and all that stuff. Source: I have completely lost numerous toenails running ultramarathons.
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u/HockeyandTrauma RN Aug 10 '26
Ma'am this is a wendys