Dealing with a big chip in a thumbnail?

Took a big old gouge out of a thumbnail while bowling. It hasn’t broken away yet, but it threatens to, has really ragged edges, and goes into the nail bed (eww).

Right now, I have a bandage on it, though I can’t imagine it lasts that long, especially since it’s on my dominant hand, the one I wash most often. Any other way to deal with it until the nail grows out? Just the thought of having the nail bed exposed gives me the willies.

Use SuperGlue to keep the nail pieces together as long as possible, while the whole thing grows out. (I can’t tell if soft tissue is exposed? If so, maybe skip my suggestion. It’s only for the hard keratin nail itself.)

I clip the broken nail as short as possible and file any rough edges. Wait for it to grow out.

Keep a bandage on it if the nail bed is exposed.

Liquid bandage on the nail bed. It’ll sting at first. Keep reapplying.

Clear nail polish can help “fill in” broken parts of the nail if the superglue doesn’t do it all.

Gouge at the end? In the middle? Near the base?

If it’s at the end I’d just smooth it off and use the hand gently. If it’s further in, I agree with the advice above about using liquid bandage or nail polish (which are nearly the same thing). And yes, it may sting.

I once has a fingernail split down the center, and I bought fake fingernails and kept one superglued over it until it grew out.

I lost an entire big toe nail once (chopping board fell on it :eek: .)

It grew back.

When I used to care about my fingernails I would mend breaks with a little piece of coffee filter and superglue. I used an orange stick to smooth it down, I think a toothpick would work. After it is completely dry you can actually buff it down a little if you want to, to get a smooth surface to polish. I think I used a fine emery board for this. It would last until the nail grew out or until I used nail polish remover on it.

I have also used a bit of teabag. Glue it on, use a buffer to smooth it out

Superglue. Apply in thin layers. A big glob can chip off, and leave you with a more painful problem.
~VOW