Eewww Ewwww What Do I Do?

[melilley]

A few weeks ago ds's pinky nail was shut in a door. The door didn't shut all the way. His pinky nail was a little discolored, but looked fine.
Fast forward to today, I noticed that his nail is falling off! It's still attached to the base of the nail bed, but the rest is totally off and I don't see a nail underneath.

What do I do? Leave it until it falls off? Cut it as close to the base as I can? He keeps trying to pull it off so I put a band aid on it and he does not like it at all. (He is 1.5 and has never had to wear a band aid).

I have never seen this before. I know it happens I just have never seen it and it's not pleasant.

[drseuss]

Cut as close to the base as you can, then cover it with a band aid. The rest will fall off eventually, but until then, you don't want it getting ripped off somehow.

[NightOwl]

Cut as close to the base as you can, then cover it with a band aid. The rest will fall off eventually, but until then, you don't want it getting ripped off somehow.

Yes, this. If it gets ripped off, it will bleed like hell!

[melilley]

Thanks ladies, that's what I figured. I'm getting chills just thinking about cutting it! Usually things like this don't bother me, I don't know why this is!

[Shell]

Yep, I have a bit of experience with this and agree with what others said. If it falls off on its own, it doesn't hurt. If it rips off - holy he** does it hurt! I used to babysit for a hand surgeon's kids, he always said to let it air out when possible and a new nail will be in in 3 to 4 months.

[SilverSabre25]

cut it and let it go. i wouldn't even cover with a band aid.

[Jack Sprat]

cut it and let it go. i wouldn't even cover with a band aid.

DD has smashed her fingers multiple times in our screen door. We just cut it,and do the same. She calls them her bum nails. ::

[butterfly]

yucky, my stomach is churning just thinking about it. There is a reason I'm not a doctor.

:hug:

[TigerLily]

Keep an eye on it, that happened to DD when she was 1 and it got infected Kind of impossible to make them stay out of the dirt this time of year!

[mountainside13]

I would leave it for mom and dad. When I worked in a center we were allowed to clip nails or remove splinters. We had to call the parents to do it.

[wdmmom]

Cut it as low as possible and let nature take its course. Keep the nail bed as clean and as dry as possible until the new nail has grown in.

[melilley]

Well I cut it and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Thanks for the advice!