Make toenails grow Faster – yes or no?

In theory you can make toenails grow faster just by being healthier. There is however a little more to it. Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails. Healthy toenails will grow at slightly more than 1.5mm a month on average, so the amount of time needed to replace a completely lost nail is more than a year. So if you are trying to regrow an entire toenail, you’ll need to be patient and have the healthiest nails you can. At least you’re less likely to bite your toenails than your fingernails but there are more things you can do.

Toenails damaged by trauma or injury

Partially broken toenails, discoloured, split or completely lost or detached nails are commonly caused by trauma or injury. Kicking a bedpost in barefeet, walking through fallen leaves and overlooking a hidden rock, dropping a piece of furniture or filled glass jar onto a foot are tales that I have heard many times. If you and your nails were healthy to start with there is a good chance that your nails will regrow without a problem.  If your nails are otherwise healthy, keeping as much of the original nail as possible, through clipping or filing, is advised and a return to a full nail will be faster than from a total loss or overzealous trimming for cosmetic reasons. A loose, sock catching, tricky to trim nail will need some attention from a Podiatrist. Crazy “just pull it off” may damage the regrowing part of the nail.

Pulling off a nail will not make it grow back Faster

Losing a nail through injury or accident may be straight forward to treat.  The important part is the stay healthy bit. A damaged nail and a vulnerable nail-less toe are more open to infection and a repeat injury. Checking in with your doctor or Podiatrist, especially at the beginning, will set you in the right direction. You may need some ongoing antiseptics, antiobiotics or dressings while the nail starts its regrowing process.

Medical Conditions and Nail Growth

Apart from an injury, if you lose a toenail, or it detaches from the nail bed, it’s quite possible that the reasons you’ve lost the nail  due to an underlying medical condition. In such cases growing the nail back quickly can be a challenge. Any underlying medical condition needs to be corrected to ensure this regrowth is healthy and sustained, not just fast. Consult your doctor or Podiatrist. Possible conditions could be a fungal infection, psoriasis or thyroid problems. Dermatological factors often need to be treated with topical (on the surface) or systemic (taken by mouth or injection)  medicines. A blood test can determine thyroid disease. Another possible condition may be poor blood circulation related to diabetes or just age. It’s always wise to get the professionals involved to ensure that any bigger health conditions are managed properly. More general health issues affecting nail growth and appearance can be linked to diet and exercise.

Nail Growth and Diet

Various studies have investigated the vagaries of nails and the speed of growth. The link between diet and nail health (and growth rate) has been indicated by several longitudinal studies. When comparing recent results to mid-century, it’s notable that diets were substantially different. Protein deficiency was common during the war and long into the post-war period. This fundamental change in the modern diet is often cited as to why nail growth today is faster.

The main factors to determine nail growth, and the rate of healthy regrowth, are your age, diet, circulation and general health. Not surprisingly, nail regrowth slows with age. More of a surprise is that men’s nails grow slightly faster than women’s.

On the diet front, the usual suspects of lean protein, fruit and leafy vegetables rich in iron, zinc, folate, antioxidants and calcium loom large. Vitamins C, D and B12 have been the main ones linked to nail health and growth. All are present in a balanced diet and complement an active exercise regime, without the need for supplements. Biotin (a complex B vitamin) is often a cited supplement in nail health to help process food as energy, for nail strength and thickness, but most foods contain Biotin already and supplements are unnecessary. A Biotin deficiency might be part of a diagnosis by your doctor if you present with poor nail health. Why not have a handful of almonds instead?

Nail clippings are often studied too. They are used in DNA testing precisely because they can indicate diet and environmental factors … or, more dramatically, the presence of poison! Trace blood under a victim’s nails is a standard of film and TV – though it’s rare that a victims scratches an attacker with their toes, with nails long enough to do it (ie. never).

How long can a toenail grow

The world record holder for toenail length currently maintains them at about 15cm each, which is 150mm! Open toe shoes only.

Fingernails are different to Toenails

You see your fingers more often and more closely than your toes, but they are only an indicator for healthy toenails. Your feet and toes are susceptible to a different range of health issues. Protection from fungal infection is the most important. Proper fitting footwear with ‘breathing room’ for toes, socks to absorb sweat, attention to drying, wariness of public showers or sharing towels. Wacking toenails against heavy objects is more common than for fingernails. More reason to protect yourself with footwear.

Making toenails grow faster relies heavily on how healthy the toenails are, and on the health of the entire body. Injury, infection, ill health or poor diet will slow the growth of toenails. As will biting them!  Healthy feet, healthy toenails.

Updated June 2021