Introduction Demographics Chemicals used How it works Complications Outlook
Medical nail avulsion is the removal of a fingernail or, more often, a toenail by chemical destruction of the nail plate. It is a painless process that takes several weeks to complete.
Nails can also be partly or completely removed by:
These more aggressive processes are painful and may lead to permanent nail dystrophy.
Medical nail avulsion is used to remove a nail that is causing symptoms that have not improved by other means. Examples include:
The main ingredient of a medical nail avulsion preparation is 40% urea. The urea is compounded with various other ingredients to make a suitable formulation that slowly macerates the nail plate. A typical 30-g formulation used for chemical nail avulsion is listed here.
Urea is also used in a lower concentration to remove scale and soften dry skin.
In one week, remove the occlusive tape dressing, gently pare away the soft tissue, wash the digit and nail using an antiseptic or saline, and repeat steps 1 to 4 above.
Once all the diseased or thickened nail plate has been removed after 3 to 6 weeks, the dressings can be removed and the chemical nail avulsion has been completed. Protect the nail bed from injury, especially initially. A protective layer of skin will grow over the nailbed within a few weeks.
Topical and/or oral antifungal treatment can be used before, during, and after chemical nail avulsion, if there is a fungal nail infection (onychomycosis)
Secondary bacterial infection is the main risk, but is uncommon.
Allergic contact dermatitis may arise due to the use of tincture of benzoin, which contains the allergen balsam of Peru, and zinc oxide tape, which contains the allergen colophony/rosin. In this case, alternative adhesive preparations may be used.
Medical nail avulsion is not completely successful at curing fungal nail infection, as fungi may be growing in the nail matrix under the proximal nail fold. This will be obvious as the nail begins to grow out again. Nor is it effective treatment for an inflammatory nail disease such as psoriasis.
In a healthy young adult, regrowth of a fingernail is expected to take around 9 months. It takes about 18 months to fully grow a great toenail. Nail growth may be slower in older individuals or in people with poor circulation.
The process can be repeated at a later date if desired.
