I am going to lose my nail?

[GnarlyNail]

Before I begin, I wanted to clarify I don't have a problem with biting my nails or the skin around it. But every now and then, the skin around the cuticle starts to flap (do you know what I mean?) and catching it on things is painful so I rip it off and suffer the pain for 30 seconds and then get on with my day. This is what happened on this occasion.

A few days later I noticed my finger was swollen... Then it started oozing yellow around the cuticle. I went to my GP who suggested antibiotics. I opted for a cream version and applied it as per the directions. However it's still sore (although not throbbing or oozing) and now the nail is looking yellow. I love my nails and seeing my finger/nail like this is a bit grim! I'm concerned the nail is going to die.

The first few photos is when it was really sore and oozing. This is my finger now after about 10 days.

Maybe speak to your doctor again?

Meanwhile, keep updating with pictures!

I don’t think you’ll lose the nail, it’s an infection in the skin surrounding it not the nail bed itself.

Time to try oral antibiotics now I think!

Looks like the nail has lifted off the nail bed where the infection was. You probably will lose that bit as it grows out, but the new nail will grow behind it.

You shouldn’t rip your own skin off like a savage. Your skin is doing a good job to protect you. Next time snip off the detached bit only with scissors, put a plaster on if you can’t stop yourself.

Like a savage though 🤣 I've learnt my lesson (although my savagery has been unproblematic for years now)

I've got a course of oral antibiotics today so fingers crossed.

I'm getting married later this year so hopefully it's in good enough condition to put some nail varnish on it.

Day 3 of oral antibiotics and it has helped with the swelling. It can't do much for the nail though which is no longer attached to the nail bed.

Will I have a gap as the new nail comes in? That's going to look grim.

Be careful not to catch it on anything! It looks really painful.

You may well lose the nail, but it won't hurt.

I lost a toenail this way. It’s not grown back…

Get one of those cuticle trimming sticks! They will cleanly slice overgrown cuticles with no bleeding if you push them back.

An update...

It's been a while.

Still pleasingly weird but much better than it was!

It's very ugly but every day I'm fascinated by its growth. The new nail is growing straight behind it but I reckon it will be a good 6 months before any trace of gnarly is gone.