Toenails typically grow about 0.1 mm per day, taking roughly 6 to 12 months to fully regenerate after being lost or damaged. While you can't magically speed up this process, you can support healthy growth.
Promoting Healthy Toenail Growth
Several factors contribute to healthy toenail growth. These include:
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Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins (like biotin), and minerals supports strong nail growth. Studies show that biotin supplements can improve keratin infrastructure, leading to faster and stronger nail growth.
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Proper Trimming: Cut your toenails straight across, avoiding rounding the corners. This prevents ingrown toenails, a common obstacle to healthy growth. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, toenails take 12 to 18 months to grow out completely, and proper trimming is crucial.
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Footwear: Choose well-fitting shoes to avoid pressure on your toenails, which can impede growth and cause deformities like upward-growing nails.
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Moisturization: Keeping your nails and surrounding skin hydrated can promote healthy growth. Topical vitamin E ointment may also help.
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Addressing Underlying Issues: Ingrown toenails, for example, prevent natural growth. If you have an ingrown toenail, it generally won't resolve on its own and requires professional treatment, which may involve partial or complete toenail removal. It can take 2 to 4 months for a toenail to fully grow back after removal.
Treating Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails, a common problem, are a major impediment to toenail growth. Signs of infection include pus, fever, and chills. If you suspect an infection, seek medical advice. Home treatments might involve gently lifting the ingrown nail edge with cotton or dental floss to allow new growth. However, professional medical treatment is often necessary.
Timeframe for Regrowth
Remember, it takes time. Toenails have a natural growth cycle. A completely new toenail may take 6-18 months to grow in completely.
