Onycholysis is a condition in which the nail separates from the skin beneath it. It may be caused by a nail injury, fungus, or psoriasis. The condition does not go away, and a person must wait until a new nail grows.


Onycholysis is the medical term for when your nail separates from the skin underneath it. Onycholysis is not uncommon, and has several possible causes.

This condition lasts for several months, because a fingernail or toenail won’t reattach to its nail bed. Once a new nail grows to replace the old one, symptoms should resolve. Fingernails take 4 to 6 months to fully regrow, and toenails can take 8 to 12 months.

Injury to the nail can cause onycholysis. Wearing tight shoes can cause injury. The condition can also result from an allergy to products used on the nail, like chemical nail polish remover or artificial nail tips. Onycholysis can also be a symptom of nail fungus or psoriasis.

Other causes include trauma or reaction to a medication. Even repetitive tapping or drumming of the fingernails can count as trauma.

Nails tend to be a barometer of your overall health. If your nails look unhealthy or have problems like onycholysis, this could be the first visible sign that something deeper is going on in your body.

Sometimes onycholysis can indicate a serious yeast infection or thyroid disease. It can also mean that you aren’t getting enough of essential vitamins or minerals, such as iron.

If you have onycholysis, your nail will begin to peel upward from the nail bed. This is not usually painful. The affected nail may become yellow, greenish, purple, white, or gray, depending on the cause.

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Onycholysis is the separation of the nail from the nail bed. It does not hurt.
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Onycholysis is common. It occurs when the nail is separated from the nail bed. Trauma to the nail can cause it.
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Determining the cause of your onycholysis is the most important step. Once the cause is found, treating the underlying issue will help resolve it.

While it’s important to keep your nails short, aggressive clipping is not recommended. As the affected portion of the nail grows out, you will be able to clip off the lifted nail as the new nail comes in.

Treating an underlying condition

The cause of the nail separation will need to be addressed before the symptoms stop occurring. It may feel unnecessary to visit your doctor over a nail issue, but it’s not. Onycholysis, especially recurring onycholysis, might need a diagnosis and a prescription in order to heal.

It’s not uncommon to have onycholysis as a symptom of psoriasis. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Association estimates at least 50 percent of people with psoriasis experience problems with their nails.

Fingernails in particular are affected by psoriasis. Treating psoriasis in the nails can be difficult. Doctors may prescribe topical vitamin D or corticosteroids to treat nail psoriasis.

A blood test may reveal that you have a thyroid condition or vitamin deficiency causing you to have onycholysis. In this case, your doctor may prescribe medication or an oral supplement to treat the underlying cause.

Home remedies

In the meantime, you might want to try to treat your onycholysis at home. Don’t try to clean underneath the nail, as you could sweep bacteria deeper underneath the nail or make the problem worse.

A 2013 study showed that tea tree oil can help treat fungus and yeast infections that happen underneath the nail.

Talk with your doctor before using tea tree or another essential oil. Don’t put essential oils directly on your skin. It’s also important to dilute them first.

Applying a mixture of tea tree oil diluted by a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, may get rid of the fungus. It’s important to keep the nail dry while it heals.

Onycholysis can result from a skin sensitivity to products such as glue, acrylics, or acetone used during manicures and pedicures. If you have skin allergies to these products, avoid the nail salon. Choose allergen-free products and paint your nails at home.

Artificial tips applied to the nail can also cause trauma to the nail bed, with onycholysis as the result.

If you have a fungus or yeast growth causing your onycholysis, you can stop it from spreading by taking proper care of your nails. Don’t bite your nails, as this will spread the problem and may possibly affect your mouth.

If your onycholysis is happening in your toenails, make sure you’re wearing clean socks and exposing your feet to dry air as much as possible.

Onycholysis is easy to spot. If you notice that your nail is beginning to lift or peel away from the nail bed underneath, you have onycholysis.

Finding out the underlying cause might be trickier. You may need to visit a dermatologist, especially if it affects more than one digit of your fingers or toes. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you don’t already have a doctor.

Onycholysis is not a reason for an emergency medical appointment, but you need to find out what’s causing it. With effective treatment, your nail will reattach to the nail bed as new growth occurs.