Have any of you had your nails separate?

@jmb73, I haven't experienced nails separating but I have heard about it. It could be onycholysis. Mayo Clinic has some information here - Fingernails: Possible problems - Slide show: 7 fingernail problems not to ignore: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/multimedia/nails/sls-20076131?s=6

Here is more information with details -- Onycholysis (Nail Separation): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22903-onycholysis#management-and-treatment

I have no medical training or background but I'm not sure I would take the it's from aging answer without asking more questions - Have you thought about getting a second opinion?

Hi John,
Thank you for your information. I opened the Mayo Clinic linc and it mentioned thyroid disease. I have an appointment with my endocronologist in July and will ask her about the nails. I get very annoyed when I am told it's just aging so thank you for all the information and I will send my PC a note on her portal to see what she thinks.
Joan

Hi Joan, I can relate to being annoyed when told 'it's just old age'. Very frustrating and sometimes not even true 😹 Let us know what the results are, and if it's indeed old age, well then, sigh...

@jmb73
I had it happen to my big toe. It was caused by fungus.
I know what you mean about doctors. For whatever reason they have a hang up on age.
Doctors at first said my 100-year-old friend was too old for surgery. She had an Aortic Aneurysm but ultimately came through the operation fine. The same with the 95 or so year-old man who had gangrene in his leg and needed it to be amputated. After the surgery the doctor said he came through it fine and adjusted to his new leg better than any younger person. He worked his ranch till his death at 103 I think it was.
In my opinion many doctors are prejudice and discriminate against older people. Shameful.
Take care,
Jake

I haven't had them just separate on their own, but about a month ago I got my nail on my big toe caught in the carpet and it separated 3/4 of the way back. OUCH was not strong enough! It bled, hurt and it was just awful. The next AM it was infected so I went to the doctor .... he put me on an antibiotic, an ointment to sort of try to push under there and bandages to put around it. It swelled up, turned bright red then purple. It's finally beginning to feel and look better, but I'm wondering if the part that was not pulled away from the flesh is going to grow back in normally. UGH!
Barb

Joan: If this is thyroid disease, why wouldn't that be a common symptom? Also, don't accept "it's just old age" either: I am 85 1/2 and I do have weak, thin nails, but they aren't loose. Poor nails is a family trait, along with thinning hair when aging. I do have a mild thyroid problem, no surgery so far, and this is also a family trait. Sounds like the doctors need to do some work there! Best to you and thanks for sharing. Doris J.

Hi Doris,
I called my endocronologist and she has ordered a panel. I do have thyroid nodules and all my immediate family have thyroid but no one has nails that are lifting. I am waiting for the results of the blood test. It seems like the doctors are overworked but I will keep on them. I have Sjogren's syndrome among other diseases so who knows if it's related. Thanks for responding.
Joan

I too had fungus issues for more years than I can remember. They grew very thick and ugly and had ingrown to the point of infection because I couldn’t clip them anymore. Over the years, different Doctors tried everything to help from pills, liquids, to home remedies, nothing helped. So at 78, I decided to have them both completely removed, yep, Talk about pain, the needle to numb wasn’t to bad and the procedure took about 2 minutes and I actually watched. Then came the healing process, now that’s a very painful problem for me. The left one came off in October 2021 and the right January 2022. I have a rare blood condition where precancerous cells are roaming around my body looking for a home to become full blooded cancer. Like people with diabetes, my toes are having trouble healing because of it. The right one still bleeds a little and the left one is almost completely healed after 8 months. I do not miss those two nails and happy they’re gone. The left one actually looks like it has a nail but it’s the skin that has healed. I can finally wear sandals soon and be thrilled to put polish on them and walk around and proudly show off my nailless big toes. Oh, by the way, my pediatrist agreed that blood disorders can slow the healing process. From my own experience, your body will try to protect the damaged skin underneath the toenail. So keep an eye out for a second toenail trying to grow under the original. I had it happen and he had to surgically remove it. Not to scare you but if your skin can not reattach itself to the original, you’ll probably have to have the whole nail down to the nail bed removed. Don’t worry tho, the nail bed is where a whole new nail will start to grow. In my case, the doctor chemically destroyed the nail bed so a new one would not grow. Good luck.

hi ... not sure if right room but my finger ends have felt odd for a few years due to peripheral neuropathy hands, lower arms, feet, lower legs, but thankfully not enough to take meds although I have a lot of other non-life-threaening illnesses. Last week I noticed the top 1/4 to 1/3 of fingernails looked white-ish; I had noticed vertical lines in nails more pronounced ; anyway, now am like others and starting a search as to what to do: I dropped off a note with photo to Clinic and see a nurse practitioner next week but did do internet search and could be "anything" its a bit had to tell in my unclear photo but I have circled in colour and seem to be getting worse every day and a couple of nails I can see bit of separation from bed when i look under fingertip... One thing.. I do have fecal incontinence and wash my hands dozens of times a day and use a nail brush every time, both hands, regardless, and wonder if I have created the problem with too many brushings under my short nails and did the damage that way or ? One more thing to add to the list. My right hand is worse and is always cold. Thanks in advance, J.

oh dear just noticed this John, will check sites, thanks so much, J.