QuestionI have used fake nails (glue ons from walmart) two or three times and after taking them off obviously they appear to be dry and damaged, but this last time, which was almost 2 months ago when I took them off, I now notice my thumb nail to be brown under the nail in the corner. When I had the fake nails on I did push it too hard into the skin but I did the other times too and this hasn't happened. Also, the way that nails grow out on the nail tips, the side of that same nail (same side as the brown corner) is the whitish color like the tip. This hasn't happened with using previous fake nails and these things didn't start popping up until about 2 weeks ago (about 4 weeks after removing the fake nails). Will this disappear as the nail grows out?
AnswerI'm sure you have already made sure that the brown on the corner is not "gunk" underneath your natural nail that can be removed by cleaning under you nail with a birchwood stick, right?
That leaves the possibility of a bacterial infection that might have started while you were still wearing the nails. If that's the case, most likely it's already dead, since the most common bacteria that affects nails doesn't really like being dry. But it will stain the nail and it has to grow out over time before you'll be able to get rid of the discoloration.
One other possibility is that it's an old-fashioned bruise, either from pushing down to secure the nails, or from pulling up to get them off. If the brown spot is under your natural nail and stays where the skin is, then I'd say bruise. If it's on the natural nail and grows out with the nail, then I'd say bacteria.
The whitish color of your own nail suggests that your nail suffered some trauma either when you were pressing the nails on or when you pulled them off. Most likely it will grow out and return to normal, but you really want to be careful when you press those nails down onto yours AND when you take them off.
One more thing: You say that the discolorations didn't show up until you'd had the nails off for about 4 weeks? That suggests that the trauma might not be related to the fake nails at all. You may have pinched the side of your finger, banged it on something, caught it somewhere-- something that put too much pressure against that side of the nail and caused the trauma. Either way, give it a few more weeks and make sure it is growing out with the nail. If the discoloration gets worse, you should see a doctor about it.
