Ideas of how to disguise missing toe nail?

[user1471530109]

I realise style and beauty may not be the right area.

Excuse my manky foot.
I had my toe nail removed year ago after it was ingrowing. They applied something on it to stop it growing back. But it looks a mess!

How can I disguise it in the summer?
The chiropodist said to paint the skin, but it flakes off withing hours. I've also tried a fake nail and that too just falls off v quickly due to shape of my nail bed.

You can see it's growing back slightly and I have to keep it trimmed back etc. But I only did that a few days ago! It's all v high maintenance and quite frankly embarrassing.

Any ideas? I appreciate it's an odd problem....

Those false nails that are cheap as chips from boots

User, you are looking about £40 for a big toe nail, it will last 3/4 months. Remember, you need someone specialist to deal with this, a nail technician is not that person. Unfortunately, with fungal nails for example, the fungus is easily spread to other nails and unless you are using specialist treatments and sterilising all instruments you can make things far worse than before. Many patients come to me with fungal nails and i regularly ask them if they have been to a nail bar, as they are the perfect place for incubating such problems. Unfortunately, most of the time the items like emery boards aren't sterilised and things such as foot spas are used, which again incubate fungus as they cannot be sterilised either. Lots of people also come to me with issues stemming from the burrs they use too. The only thing I would let a nail bar do is to put paint on my nails, they are not qualified or knowledgeable enough to deal with nail conditions or foot problems obvs.

Madbengalmum, what is your job title? How would we go about finding someone to do nail reconstruction?

I have pm'd you Delphinium.

Any high street nail salon should be able to give you a gel or acrylic nail. Go for a full set so that they all look the same.

Treat yourself OP 😁!

Khalliwalli, no no no, please don't advise this on a damaged or fungal nail! Just randomly sticking a plastic nail onto a compromised site is asking for problems, in addition to this the issue will spread to the other nails too!

It's not randomly sticking a plastic nail. Also, if it's fungal, then you should apply Vics Vaporub a few times a day, then Khalas. It will go away.

Khalli, 1. unless all of the instruments used in the nail bar are autoclaved in an industrial steriliser, which they aren't, a nail technician will most likely spread the infection.

1. The nail needs treating at the nail bed to stop infection, which a nail technician cannot do, before a nail is put on.
2. An acrylic nail will not last for any prolonged period on a fungal or distressed nail.
3. Vicks is not a proven cure at all, very much like the duct tape on verrucas trick, it will only aid individuals with a CERTAIN TYPE of fungal infection, and the fungus will come back with this method. Also, as in the majority of fungal cases the nail is thickened just putting this on the nail will not achieve anything as the nailbed will not be treated hence why vicks users may see only a temporary improvement followed by a guaranteed recurrence.

You sound v knowledgeable, @Madbengalmum. I too would like to know who I need to search for in the local area.

My other foot is completely unaffected. I'd love to feel happy about my feet again. Thanks for all the info.

Actually. Think I've found someone in the next village down!
So, I'm looking for 'nail reconstruction'? The website also talks about treating fungal nail infections too so could v well be 2 birds with 1 stone!

Thank you

So glad you have a resolution. I have a missing little toenail after a horse stood on it. Obviously it isn't nearly as noticeable.

I was going to suggest Menorca sandals like these from seasalt as they cover the toe.

Might be an option whilst you wait to get the toe sorted.

User, my pleasure, i hope you get a good result!

Are you in Hampshire, OP? I know a woman who specialises in tonsil reconstruction and does incredible work!

Justwaiting, 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣, oh the joys of predictive text!

Look up LCN Wilde-pedique. I’m on my second time having this done by chiropodist, lasts all summer, paint like a regular toe nail. It’s made such a difference to my summers. Has a anti fungal in it too. I think you need some nail to attach to but I’m not sure.

I used to be a nail tech. I love acrylic for fingernails but would not advise it for feet and I'd be wary of someone who offered to do it.

Acrylic is absolutely inflexible. Even if it was fine when applied it would eventually begin to move off the nail bed and would be liable to bend where the acrylic meets the nail. With acrylic overlays it's not unusual to bash a fingernail and crack and/or bruise the natural nail right down the middle of the nail bed. It's just not a good idea for feet.

Hoping that no one will mind if I resurrect this thread but this is what I need! Am about to lose a big toenail after dropping a heavy chair on it. It's currently come away from the toe apart from along the base - it's going to fall off completely soon. If I go for a nail reconstruction (hurray, I didn't know such things existed!) what happens when the new nail starts to grow? Do I have to have the artificial nail removed? And what's the approximate cost in London?

Oh, love. I have one of these too, was ingrowing so got removed as a teen.
Tbh I usually just paint nail polish on the skin (if bothering at all). It stays on a few days. You might be putting too much on, counterintuitive as that is, I actually find less is more.
It's not unusual, don't feel embarrassed.
I used to get gel nails, lasted a while. The salon was lovely about it too. You could contact a few salons, see what they can do.
As for the fungal infection. It's not just cosmetic, although GPs love to dismiss issues - generally those affecting women - as such What worked for me was Schöll products, used the paint-on stuff plus the powder religiously every day, plus soaking in hot water with lavender and tea tree oils. Every day for 6 weeks, then weekly as ongoing maintenance - I've been doing it a year with no recurrence. You can't use nail polish while treating btw...I forgot open toe sandals exist...just getting back into them now. It's worth it

I've seen tattoos done there before but then I guess you can't change the colour

In the last 30 years I have tried every trick in the book, to no avail. Every nail glue available, self adhesive nails gorilla glue, super glue, actor mastic and acrylics. Never an infection fortunately but so disappointing for me.
Nail reconstruction is not possible as I have no nail bed available, just an indentation of a nail shape.
What DOES work is colostomy glue! A tip I learned from an actor. Messy but works longer than anything on an irregular base of missing nail. I’d love to hear of other tips, but seemingly there are none.

I had to have 6 toenails removed many years ago. I'm desperate for a solution. I recently went to 2 nails salons but they said they couldn't help me because there has to be a piece of nail to attach a fake nail to. Any help would be so appreciated.

Unless you've got a strong stomach, do not Google toenail reconstruction 🤢