If you’re clear of the above signs, you’re likely good to skip the doctor and let the bruise heal up on its own. As for a cracked nail, you’ll have to wait for the damage to grow out. (Fun fact: Fingernails grow an average of 3.47 millimeters a month according to one 2010 study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)
All that said, in the days following the injury, you should also be on the lookout for signs of infection.
What are the signs of a fingernail infection?
“If there is any pus, if it becomes really red and hot after the fact, or there is a lot of swelling, it’s a sign of infection,” dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., tells SELF. “If it’s green, that’s another sign that there is bacteria in there.” There might also be persistent pain that just doesn’t wane. These symptoms are all signs you need to see a doctor. Make an appointment with a dermatologist, primary care physician, or at an urgent care center to get the wound drained and get a prescription for antibiotics.
If you see red streaks on your hand or forearm or you feel feverish or nauseated, it could be much more serious. These are signs that the infection has spread to the bloodstream, which can lead to sepsis. “Sepsis is extremely serious, and anyone seeing the infection worsening with the spread to the hand should seek care at an E.R.,” says Dr. Lain.
What should I do if my fingernail starts falling off (or falls off completely)?
Yes, your fingernail falling off is a thing that can happen, so it’s good to be prepared. After an acute trauma, your nail may turn black and seem like it’s barely hanging on. Please, please, don’t pull it off. You can cut it down, but let the injury grow out on its own. “Leave it alone, because there is new nail growing underneath,” says Dr. Lain. “The new nail will push up the old nail, and it will come off when it’s ready.”
Once the fingernail falls off, it’s a good idea to protect the sensitive skin of the nail bed with a Band-Aid. “If you leave it open to the air, it can get very dry and very cracked, and if it gets traumatized, it can affect how the nail grows,” says Dr. Lain.
In some cases, like if the nail bed is infected, the doctor might have to remove the nail by force. This procedure is called a nail evulsion: First, they numb up your finger with a local numbing treatment. Then the doctor uses special tools to lift the nail on each side and peel the plate away from the nail bed. (Kind of sounds like something out of a horror movie, right?)
Can I get a manicure with a bruised fingernail?
Now, here’s what I really wanted to know: Can I cover a cracked or bruised fingernail with pretty polish while it’s healing? The answer is yes—with a few precautions.