My big fucking toenail has just split in half.

[AreolaGrande]

About 6 months ago I noticed a ridge develop horizontally across my big toenail. The nail above the ridge was raised and rougher. Below the ridge (so the newer nail growing in) was lower down and smoother. Looked weird and made painting my nails a ball-ache but didn't really think anything more about it.

I've just run up the stairs and stubbed my toe on the carpeted stair and the nail has split right across the ridge, about 2/3 the way down my nail HOWEVER it hasn't come off. It is still clinging on precariously.

I don't want to touch it as I really don't want to see my exposed toe meat 🤢

Am out for posh dinner tomorrow night and was meant to be wearing naice open toe sandals 😭

Shall I just leave it? Bandage it? It hurts a wee bit not nothing major.

Not usually squeamish but anything with toenails or eyeballs gives me the gip 🤮

go and see a podiatrist who will sort it for you!

in the meantime, cut it back so it does not get caught on anything!

Ouch!!
The amount of times I've stubbed my toe, got black toe nails and have them fall off 🤢 still makes me squeamish!
Trim it back so it doesn't get caught, wrap it up and get it seen to if you can x

I've had a similar two level ridged big toe nail for about 7 years. I saw a podiatrist and she said the toe nail bed was damaged. I just keep the top section as low as possible and wear dark nail polish

Thanks guys.

I know myself well enough to know I'm not going to go to a podiatrist. I don't really do anything beyond the most essential GP/dentist appts. Also, what could a podiatrist possibly do that I can't at home? Once the nail comes off I'm just going to leave it be, file sharp edges etc and let it recover.

Am I missing something re: podiatrists?

Obvs if it becomes infected I'll get it looked at.

Toe meat 🙂 Sorry OP.

Try to repair but if it bothers you put a large plaster on and say you stubbed it. Doubt anyone would notice your toes much.

It happened to me 6 days ago. I was seeing the doctor already on Tuesday and she says I have a fungus. I am on Antifungal meds now.

Cut as much of the nail down as possible and file rough edges to reduce the chance of it catching. Wrap it with a plastic, flesh coloured plaster and paint a nail onto the plaster where the nail should be with the varnish you're using on your other toes .... job done, I doubt anyone will notice!

@Jillybloop393 that's innovative

It is been lifted for a while, which sound likely given you’re description then there won’t be any “toe meat” (whatever the fuck that is ). There is very likely reasonably normal looking skin under the nail. I would trim away the detached portions of nail and it will regrow. If it’s nice and neat people probably won’t notice it at all.

Hi,
Podiatrist here and without a picture, it's hard to give an accurate treatment suggestion, however, you have 3 options.

1. Put a plaster over the toenail to hold it down and prevent it catching. Do this until it stops being sore / falls off or whatever.

2. Cut back all of the loose nail to prevent it catching. This will expose your 'toe meat'*. Just try to make sure that you don't leave any sharp corners which could dig in and then cause an ingrown toenail. You might want to soak your foot in warm water for (at least) 5 minutes to soften the nail.

3. See a podiatrist who can do this for you. The major benefit is that they will (hopefully) shape the nail to prevent the nail ingrowing in the future.
   Sometimes podiatrists will suggest that you need nail surgery, but frankly I have found this to be unnecessary in the majority of cases that sound like yours.

You're not wrong though, this is probably something that you can easily deal with at home.

Feel free to post a pic if you want more advice.

For transparency, this is my profile.

I forgot to say... @AreolaGrande, as a representative of the feet, I hereby strip you of all anatomy-naming privileges... Honestly, 'toe meat'?!😷😖

I had a gammy big toe and it did grow back after it fell off - just here to say that I used fake painted toe nails for aesthetics so that is always an option