What should you know about onycholysis pain?

Onycholysis is lifting of the nail plate away from the skin below it. Air and debris can make the gap look white, yellow, or grey. Causes include injury, pressure, wet work, product irritation, psoriasis, and fungal infection. These can look alike, so a clinician may examine the nail and test material before selecting treatment. The detached part does not simply fuse back; healthy nail must grow forward.

Reduce pressure and friction, keep the nail trimmed at its loose edge, and avoid picking. Trim only the loose edge and never pull attached nail away. Keep the nail clean and dry, protect it during wet work, and pause polish, extensions, glue, harsh removers, and aggressive filing. Do not share nail tools. Related reading includes [Nail Fungus](/conditions/nail-fungus/) and [Nail Psoriasis](/conditions/nail-psoriasis/).

Arrange an assessment if lifting spreads, affects several nails, returns repeatedly, or fails to improve as new nail grows. Seek prompt care for worsening pain, redness, warmth, swelling, pus, bleeding, fever, or a dark mark that does not move outward. [Nail Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/nail-surgery/) may be relevant only after clinical assessment.

What cause best fits the pattern? Do I need testing before treatment? Which products or activities should I stop, and how can I protect the nail while it grows?