Question
Recently, when I was picking my little toe nail on my left foot, I got under the nail from both the side and the bottom. In a matter of seconds, half of the nail (including the bottom) was lifted and hanging. Figuring that it would not reintegrate itself if I just left it, I went ahead and tore the rest of the nail off (it pulled up horizontally and from beneath the cuticle). I know this is bad. I'm keeping it dry and clean to prevent infection, but, will it regrow? Thanks

Answer
If the nail plate lifted off the nail bed that easily, I am figuring that there was a fungal infection present that allowed it to be removed that easily. It is very painful to 'rip' a healthy nail plate from the nail bed, not to mention that it would bleed profusely.

Keep it clean and dry until it 'heals'. You might also want to apply a drop of vinegar to the effected nail at least twice daily. Do not wear toght shoes or shoes that allow downward pressure, such as tennis shoes or running shoes - especially if you run for exercise. Be as gentle to it as you can until a new nail has pushed forward from underneath the cuticle and totally replaced itself. This can take from 6 months to a year since toenails grow very slowly.