Can You Swim Safely With a Detached Toenail?

Can You Swim With a Detached Toenail?

Having a detached or partially detached toenail can be quite painful and inconvenient. You may be wondering if you can still swim safely with this condition or if you should avoid swimming altogether until the nail is fully healed.

In most cases, it is possible to swim with a detached toenail as long as you take the proper precautions. However, there are some risks to consider before jumping in the pool or ocean with an injured nail.

Causes of Detached Toenails

Before exploring whether it's safe to swim with a detached toenail, it helps to understand what causes a toenail to partially or fully come off in the first place. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Injury - Direct trauma to the toenail from stubbing, dropping something on the toe, or tight shoes can detach the nail from the nail bed.
• Fungal infection - Toenail fungus often causes thickening and detachment of the nail.
• Psoriasis - Skin conditions like psoriasis can trigger nail abnormalities including detachment.
• Poor circulation - Reduced blood flow to the extremities from diabetes or peripheral artery disease increases detachment risk.
• Chemical exposure - Repeated contact with harsh chemicals like detergents may slowly cause the nail to separate and lift.

Is Swimming Allowed With a Detached Toenail?

Generally, swimming is permissible with a detached or partially detached nail as long as proper precautions are followed. However, it depends on the extent of detachment and whether there is any bleeding or risk of infection.

According to podiatrists, if the nail is detached but still connected at the base and not displaceable when touched, swimming should be fine. But if the nail is completely detached and only held on by a small piece of skin, swimming is not recommended.

Risks of Swimming With a Detached Nail

While swimming with a detached toenail is possible in many cases, there are some potential risks to consider before hitting the pool or beach:

• Infection - Exposure to pool, lake or ocean water could cause a bacterial or fungal infection in the delicate nail bed tissue underneath the detached nail.
• Pain - Movement of the water and kicking could tug on the detached nail, causing significant pain.
• Further detachment - The motion of swimming may worsen the detachment or pull the nail off entirely.
• Bleeding - An unprotected nail bed has greater risk of getting scraped or bumped and bleeding in the water.

Precautions for Swimming With a Detached Nail

If you wish to swim with a detached toenail, certain precautions should be taken to lower the risk of complications:

• Cover the nail with an adhesive bandage or toenail glue to seal it against water exposure.
• Wear water shoes or rubber flip flops to protect the toe when walking on rough pool surfaces or sandy beaches.
• Avoid kicking forcefully off the wall to prevent tugging on the nail.
• Keep the nail dry when out of the water by wearing socks and dry shoes.
• Apply an antiseptic ointment and bandage after swimming to prevent infection.
• Soak the toe in Epsom salt water after swimming to clean and disinfect the nail bed.
• Watch for signs of worsening detachment, bleeding or infection and avoid swimming if they occur.

Treatment for a Detached Toenail

In addition to protective swimming measures, proper treatment must be followed to help the detached nail heal:

• Trim loose edges - Carefully trim any lifted or jagged edges with sterilized nail clippers to prevent catching and tearing.
• Antibiotic ointment - Apply antibacterial ointment daily under the nail to prevent infection.
• Protective padding - Place cotton, gauze or gel padding under the nail edge to cushion it and prevent further lifting.
• Toenail adhesive - Use medical grade toenail glue or adhesive to secure the detached segment while it heals.
• Pain medication - Take over-the-counter pain relievers if swimming or other activities are uncomfortable.

See a podiatrist promptly if the entire nail detaches suddenly, bleeding or pus occur, or pain persists despite treatment. Surgical removal of the nail or oral antifungal medication may be needed for fungal infections or severe detachment injuries.

Preventing Toenail Detachment

Preventing toenail detachment in the first place is ideal to avoid complications like swimming limitations. Here are some tips to promote healthy toenails:

Practice Proper Foot Hygiene

Make sure to wash and fully dry feet daily, including between the toes. Trim nails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. Disinfect home pedicure tools before reusing them.

Wear Properly Fitting Shoes

Choose well-fitted shoes with adequate toe room. Avoid tight shoes that compress the toes together. Break in new shoes gradually to stretch them.

Treat Toenail Fungal Infections

Get prompt treatment for any suspected nail fungus. Oral medication or laser therapy may be needed to clear stubborn fungal infections and stop detachment.

Protect Toes From Injury

Wear shoes at all times when outdoors to shield toes from impacts. Remove hazards that are easy to stub toes on at home.

Apply Moisturizer

Keep toenails flexible by massaging in petroleum jelly or other moisturizers. Avoid harsh nail polishes or chemicals.

Take Nutritional Supplements

Some supplements like vitamin E, vitamin C and biotin may help strengthen nails and reduce detachment risk.

See a Podiatrist Regularly

Have a podiatrist examine your feet and toenails during annual physicals to catch any problems early. Specialist treatment may be needed for chronic nail conditions.

When to Avoid Swimming

While swimming with a minor detached toenail may be possible with precautions, there are some situations when swimming should be avoided completely until healed:

• The nail is barely attached - Swimming should be avoided if the nail is dangling by just a slim piece of skin or detached at multiple edges.
• The nail bed is exposed - Open sores or significant lifting that leaves the tender nail bed unprotected warrants avoiding swimming.
• Signs of infection are present - Drainage, redness and throbbing pain indicate infection where swimming would delay healing.
• Diabetes is poorly controlled - Poor circulation in diabetics heightens infection risk from swimming with detached nails.
• You are immunocompromised - Those with weakened immune systems are more prone to complications from swimming with open wounds.

Children should also avoid swimming with injured nails, as their nail beds are more easily exposed to contaminants in the water. When in doubt, it is best to hold off swimming until complete toenail reattachment occurs or a podiatrist gives the go-ahead.

Preventing Toenail Injuries at the Pool or Beach

Swimming pools, water parks and beaches pose additional risks for toenail trauma beyond just detached nail concerns. Follow these tips to avoid hurting nails during water activities:

Wear Protective Water Shoes

Flip flops or water shoes protect toes when walking on hard, wet surfaces surrounding pools and when exploring rocky tidal pools or coral reefs.

Watch Your Kick

Go slowly when kicking off pool walls to avoid ramming toes into the hard surface. Tuck toes under when using kickboards.

Don't Dive in Shallow Water

Check water depth closely before diving in to ensure ample depth. Never dive into an unknown depth.

Smooth Rough Pool Surfaces

Sand down any jagged or rough concrete areas around home pools where toes could get scraped or jammed.

Beware Door and Deck Hazards

Watch for suddenly opening pool gates and deck doors that could smash toes as you walk past wet areas. Keep decks tidy.

Limit Time in Hot Tubs

Prolonged hot tub use can damage nails. Soak nails in water after hot tubbing to rehydrate them.

When to See a Doctor for a Detached Toenail

While mild toenail detachment often heals on its own, it's important to consult a podiatrist or physician promptly if:

• The nail is fully detached with the nail bed exposed
• Bleeding, significant pain, redness or pus are present
• Nail detachment recurs frequently
• Diabetes or poor circulation exist
• Signs of nail fungus like thickening or discoloration are evident
• Detachment results from a penetrating nail bed injury

The doctor can properly clean and protect the nail, prescribe oral antibiotics if infected, and determine if removal of the nail or other interventions are required. With prompt care, most detached toenails can regrow healthily again.

When to Consider Permanent Nail Removal

In severe cases of recurrent, painful nail detachment or fungal infection, permanent removal of part or all of the toenail may be recommended. This is known as a partial or total nail avulsion.

Reasons a doctor may suggest permanent nail removal include:

• Chronic, painful detachment unrelieved by other treatments
• Severe fungal infection that makes the nail too thick to trim
• Infected ingrown toenails
• Malformed nails that apply pressure to other toes
• Damaged nails that pose injury risk during sports

Following surgical nail removal, the nail may regrow in a healthier shape or not at all if the entire nail matrix is taken out. While not common, permanent removal is sometimes the best option for recalcitrant nail problems.

Caring for Nails After Swimming

To keep toenails healthy after swimming, be sure to:

• Rinse feet with clean water to wash away pool/ocean chemicals and contaminants
• Dry feet carefully, including between the toes
• Apply antiseptic ointment and adhesive bandages to any detached or sensitive nails
• Wear clean, dry socks and supportive shoes after swimming
• Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling or oozing
• Keep nails trimmed neatly to avoid catching on socks or further tearing
• File away any sharp nail edges
• See a doctor promptly if pain, infection or detachment worsens

In Conclusion

A partially or fully detached toenail can happen due to trauma, infections, or other medical conditions. Swimming is permissible in many cases of nail detachment if proper precautions are followed to lower infection risk and prevent further detachment. However, medical treatment is vital, and swimming should be avoided in severe cases of nail detachment until the nail fully reattaches and heals.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.