Toenails

Can shortened nail beds grow back?

If you notice you have shortened toenail beds you may be concerned. While they may cause your toenails to look shorter than others, usually shortened nail beds aren’t a serious problem you need to worry about. Here we look at what causes shortened nailbeds and what you can do to protect them.

What are nail beds?

Your toes have three basic structures:

the nail (also called the nail plate)
the nail bed (the pink tissue under your nail that supports nail growth)
skin tissues that surround your toe.

Toenails are made of a protein called keratin, which is the same protein that makes up skin and hair. At the base of the toenail is the toenail matrix. The lighter half-moon shape at the base of your nail is the visible part of the matrix. This is called the lunula and is where new keratin is made. Toenails grow by pushing the nail forward.

In healthy toes, the nail is firmly attached to the nail bed and only separates at the tip of your toe, where the end of your nail is.

The nail bed is an important part of your toe and contains blood vessels, nerves and cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce the brown pigment (melanin) which gives your skin its colour and helps protect against UV light.

A healthy nail bed is important for healthy nail growth. If it’s compromised, your toenails may not grow properly.

What causes shortened nail beds?

Nail beds come in different shapes and sizes. Some are wide, some narrow, some are long, and some are short.

Genetics have the biggest influence on the size of your nail bed. However, other factors can shorten your nail beds. These include:

Nail injuries — Injuries, excessive pressure or repetitive stress can damage the nail bed and lead to shortened nails. Losing the whole nail plate is a common cause of shortened nail beds. This is because the nail plate holds the shape of the bed. When you lose the whole nail, the place holder disappears, and the nail shortens.
Fungal infections — Infections in the nail can cause separation between the nail and the nail bed, leading to shortened nail beds.
Picking or cutting toe nails — If you cut your toenails too short or pick at them you can shorten the bed. Biting your toe nails will have the same effect. We admit that it’s harder to bite your toe nails than it is your finger nails, but you never know what unique skill some people have!
Poor nutrition — Healthy nail beds require vitamins, minerals and protein. Nutritional deficiencies can compromise the health of your nails and may contribute to shortened nail beds.
Health conditions — Some health conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions can change the structure of the nail.
Nail surgery — Nail surgery has the potential to cause damage to the nail and lead to shortened nailbeds, particularly if the surgery is too aggressive.