How to Remove Bruising Under a Nail
- 1). Ice the affected nail. To protect your skin, place a towel or washcloth between your skin and the ice pack. Ice the injury every hour, for 20 minutes.
- 2). Elevate the injury by keeping it above your heart. Lie down and prop your hand or foot up with pillows.
- 3). Take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. Because dosage varies depending on the type of anti-inflammatory, follow the instructions included with your medication.
- 4). Wait for several weeks. Eventually, the affected nail will generally fall off because the blood separates from the nail bed. Once the nail has fallen off, a new nail will grow in its place. This process can take as little as eight weeks for a fingernail, or as long as six months for a toenail.
