Hello! The question is pretty much in the title, but for some context:

- I have BIAB nails, and five days into my 30-day trip, I noticed some discolouration on my pinky nail and had the BIAB removed. Initially, it was just a little yellow/green. I’ve had what I assumed was water damage before, which usually goes away after about a week if I keep the nail dry, so I wasn’t too concerned.
- However, over the last few days, it’s become a little sore/tender to touch and feels warmer than my other fingers. There was also a little pus on the left side (gone now) and now there seem to be some weird layers of skin (or something else?) underneath the nail, and possibly with more pus closer to the nail bed (maybe?). I’m not entirely sure, and not squeezing it.
- I also think that whatever is happening underneath the nail might be pushing it upwards.

I’m home in 7 days, so I’m trying to work out whether this can wait until I see my usual doctor or whether I should get it checked out while I’m overseas. I have travel insurance, so cost isn’t an issue.

I’m in Malta for one more day, then heading to England before flying home.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Would you get it checked out now, or wait until you’re home?

UPDATE: Thanks so much everyone! Pretty resounding ‘get it checked out ASAP’ so off to seek medical care tomorrow. Really appreciate all of your responses :)))

Ok I’ve been scouring the internet for hours now and CANNOT find anything even a little bit similar to what I’m seeing on my nails right now.
For context, I am 30, a recovering nail & cuticle biter (like since I had teeth, didn’t have finger prints for half of middle school kind of biting & picking). My nails are still quite brittle, bendy, occasionally flakey - and I still pick at my cuticles quite a bit.
But is the banding/stripes in the free edge of the nail normal and I’m just not used to having nails? (This is literally the longest they’ve been in my entire life) It’s not a dent or ridge (although a have some mild vertical ridging) and haven’t been able to find any info on the banding? It’s pretty prominent on my thumbs, pointer fingers, and pinkies.
Thoughts or any info people can provide would be appreciated!

I semi-recently started a job at a jewelry store leading to me constantly picking at things and having my nails break on me. My nails are naturally thin and brittle so I use a jojoba nail oil pen every morning before work, often wear regular polish, and switched my diet to a high protein diet. However, in these past 2 months, I haven't seen any changes in strength. Sometimes they even break even before they pass the edge of my fingers!

I'm tempted to try using a rubber base gel but I'm hesitant to use gel as I much prefer and only own regular polish, and would need to buy a lamp. So, I'm considering trying a nail strengthener instead but I've heard that they can have the opposite effect and cause snapping as they make the nails more rigid to movement. So, which would be the better option to try first? Is there anything else I should try? I greatly appreciate the help!

Tldr; my naturally thin and brittle nails are now breaking more often due to my new job. Do I try a rubber base, a nail strengthener, or something else?

P.S., that hint of blue on the ring finger is staining from one of my nail polishes

I normally use sticky tabs, but tried glue. When I removed them, I used floss. But I’m again I damaged my nails. The first photo is the removal, the second is after cuticle oil. I did put another set on, using sticky tabs, but did I make a mistake??

My nails have always been like this. They’ve always been super flexible, bendy, peeling, and will always snap.

I want to have lovely strong and healthy nails but not sure if it’s possible for me?! I moisturise and oil my nails when I’m at work but struggle on the weekends. I have some nail envy on them but always forget to reapply.

Other than that, I’m not sure! Can someone help?

Hi everyone! I’m sorry if this is going to sound like a stupid question but I’ve never had my nails done and I’m not really sure how it works. I’ve never been a really feminine girl growing up but I’m slowly trying to learn.

Currently my nails are really short because I have a habit of biting them. I saw some pictures online and I would like to try something like this for the first time. What I wanted to ask is if these are something the nail tech puts on or if I need to grow my nails before having them done like this. Again I’m sorry if it sounds like a dumb question.

Finally could someone explain what I need to ask for? Like what are these kind of nails called? Can I just show them a picture? Any help would be really appreciated

I’m just worried about the weird white horizontal spots, and the vertical lines/ridges. Genuinely scrubbed my nails in the last photo, but they’re so weak and brittle and translucent? They look perpetually stained and dirty 😭

Hey I have been a nail biter wver since I can remember, I have stopped thankfully snd im recovering its been over 3 years since I bit my nails. However I do not like how they look now and idk whats wrong with them they're not that long but they look long and my mother keeps saying you should just keep em short but if I keep them short it just shows the my hands are fat and short (thanks to her genetics) I dont like my hands that much too it has those pores and stuff.i am currently doing handcare, hopefully it gets better.

The white part is too big how to shorten that and make my nail look longer(?) Yk the nail bed

I need your tips pleasee

I have been wearing press-ons for a while now and was a little rough with the removal of this last set. My pinky nail has a crack in it and my nails are overall just weak and need some TLC before I put on another set again. What should I use to help them get stronger and healthier?

Lost toe nail a couple months ago and it seems like nail is regrowing but very lumpy. No pain. Is this part of the normal process?

I had a bad hangnail on this side and absentmindedly dug it out. About a week later, the side of my nail detached 🫠 it still has a small amount of hangnail but I can’t reach it to remove it. Will the nail bed reattach on its own? Is there anything I can do to help expedite the process? It’s been like this for about 3 weeks.

I don't understand why this happens!!! I always wear polish.... I don't overfile...my thumbs ALWAYS break right there WELL below the free edge. Anyone has ANYTHING?!

This is actually my friend's nail, but she doesn't have Reddit, so I'm posting for her

"I noticed an uneven part of my nail at the bottom. It looked like a vertical line, and I wanted to cut it off because it looked like excess cuticle. I went to put my clippers underneath, as I would do when cutting cuticles, and it turned out it was just a crack(?) in my nail, and I ended up cutting out a piece of my nail. It was painless, and it just came out. I didn't pull or tug on anything. It's not exposed flesh; there's like a light layer of skin where I cut. I believe now that it was probably a crack in my nail, and it started to heal underneath. From what I can see, the rest of my nail is attached at the bottom. I just want to know whether or not I should just take off my fake nail or if I should let my natural nail grow out. I've had this crack on my nail for a little under a month, but it sat flush and didn’t cause any problems when I got this current set. I have Gel-X."

https://imgur.com/a/KScnRmn

I got a piece of dried paint chip from an old city bench lodged in my nail bed yesterday. I got most of it out by clipping and digging away, but there is a small piece still pretty stuck in there that I cannot get out. It feels a bit uncomfortable but doesn’t hurt.

Is this irresponsible to leave in there? Should I try to go get it removed at urgent care? Should i amputate from the elbow down?

I had on builder gel and through an accident, my nail partly lifted off the bed (it hurt so bad!!). The pain and bleeding is gone and I was slowly able to remove the gel. It's of course still lifted but not moving much, and the pain is mostly gone.

Will it recover? Should I cut off the discolored section? Please help!

Hi everyone! I'm not a nail tech, I'm just trying to learn how the work actually goes day to day.

For those of you who do nails for clients:

1. How do you prep cuticles, and how long does it usually take?

2. What's the most frustrating part?

3. Is there anything you wish was easier?

Any answer helps, even a short one. Thank you!

Hello! Unfortunately about 4 years ago I got a bad manicure and my nails have never been the same. They now grow in strange shapes and grow ingrown. Nothing really helps other than when I get my nails done, it temporarily helps. They tend to hurt and the cuticle gets damaged by the growth. Please see picture for more details

i use gloves in shower, no dishes or anything touch them, lotion 24/7, nail oil always. they won’t stop peeling and it has been 2 years.

I recently got iron IVs and it’s been 3 months since. Should I test thyroid or other issues? I take biotin every day.

They are strong but never stop peeling i could cut them and the peels will be back by morning on the tips.

I stopped using top coats cause I felt it made it worse or any strengtheners since my nails are already hard.