Losing a toenail is quite common among runners, but it can happen to anyone, for a variety of reasons. Read on to understand what to do if you are losing a toenail.

Why am I losing a toenail?

You could be losing a toenail because of –

• Infection – An overgrowth of fungi under or on the nail may lead to a fungal infection. Your toenail could have a fungal infection if you can see–

o yellowing and streaking on the nail
o flaky nail surface
o crumbling nails
o the nail can detach from the nail bed completely, if left untreated

• Injury –An injury to the toe may also cause the nail to fall off. Such a toenail may turn dark or black due to the build-up of blood underneath. The nail may fall off in a few weeks.

• Running –Runners may lose a toenail due to the toe repetitively hitting the front of the shoe. This may result in a toe/nail injury and cause the nail to eventually fall off.

What should I do about a falling toenail?

First and foremost, resist the urge to tear the nail off. Ripping off a broken toenail when it's not ready can cause further injury. If you feel that the nail is barely attached, gently remove it using clippers.

If you are not sure, just file down the rough edges (to avoid catching on anything), clean the area, and watch out for any signs of infection.

If the toenail falls off and is bleeding, apply pressure to the area to stop bleeding. Clean the skin underneath with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. Cover the open wound with a bandage. Keep the area clean and covered until the wound heals. If it is hurting, see a podiatrist right away.

If there are any open cuts or tears in the skin underneath, keep the skin clean and covered to prevent infection. Once the open wound has healed, you may leave the area uncovered but ensure that it is clean and dry.

Any redness, drainage or excessive pain may be signs of infection. Get it looked at by your podiatrist.

How to ensure the health of the new nail

In about 6 weeks, you'll start to see a new nail growing. It may take up to a year for a toenail to grow back out. To monitor the progress –

If you're not sure why your old toenail fell off, it is important to discover and fix the issue before the new nail starts growing, or else it could be vulnerable to the same thing. For example, if you lost your old toenail due to a fungal infection, you may need antifungal medication for the new nail. It is best to see a podiatrist.

Keep your feet dry, change your socks often, and avoid going barefoot in public places.

If the new nail is growing back crooked or damaged, see a podiatrist.

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