Onycholysis is when the nail plate separates from the nail bed, the skin the nail rests on. At our podiatry practice in Mokotów we assess the nail, clean it and plan your care while the healthy nail grows out.
A white, hollow nail edge
The nail edge turns white or yellowish, and there is an empty space underneath. The lifted nail catches on your socks and looks “hollow”. Lateral onycholysis starts at the side of the nail plate. It can affect one or several toenails.
We clean and protect the nail
We clean the space under the lifted part and trim the free edge if it catches. To finish, we apply care products to the area. We can clean one nail or several, as a separate visit or together with a podological pedicure.
You know how to care for the nail
We show you how to care for the nail at home and discuss factors that may have weakened it. Advice is tailored to the nail’s condition. At follow-up visits, we check its growth and review the care routine.
The team is led by Oksana Holovko, a podologist since 2009 and an orthopodology specialist. With onycholysis we ask about your shoes, injuries and toenail polish, because if the cause stays, the nail can lift again. Only then do we choose your home care.
We give each visit as much time as it needs, so you can ask all your questions. If the nail looks unusual, we tell you plainly when it’s worth showing it to a dermatologist.
Prices are a guide. The specialist confirms the final price after assessing your nails.
What is onycholysis and how do I recognise it?
Onycholysis is when the nail plate no longer sticks to the nail bed. The early stage is easy to miss, because the change often starts quietly at the free edge. If part of the nail changes colour and lifts away from the toe, show it to a specialist. At your visit we’ll check whether it’s onycholysis.
Can I recognise onycholysis from photos online?
No. Photos help you understand what onycholysis looks like, but other nail changes can look similar. At your visit we look at the nail up close, ask about its history and tell you what to do next. If you’re not sure where to start, choose a podiatry consultation.
Does onycholysis hurt?
Usually not. More often the problem is how the nail looks and the way the lifted part catches on socks. If the toe hurts, looks red or there is any discharge, tell us at your visit. In the vast majority of cases the cleaning procedure itself is well tolerated.
What happens during the procedure and how long does it take?
A visit to clean one nail takes about 20–50 minutes. You can also combine the cleaning with a podological pedicure in one visit. The exact steps depend on the condition of the nail, and we go through them at the start of the visit.
When will my nail look normal again?
It’s a process that takes months. A healthy nail has to grow out from the base, and toenails grow slowly. Until then, the lifted part needs regular care, so we agree a plan of follow-up visits. At each one we check how the nail is changing and adjust your home care if needed.
Can onycholysis come back?
Yes. Onycholysis can come back if whatever is making the nail lift is still there. In your home-care advice we explain what to change in your daily routine to lower that risk. Follow-up visits help spot early on that the nail edge is lifting from the nail bed again.
There's a green colour under my nail. Is that onycholysis too?
Not always. A greenish colour under a lifted nail can be a separate problem that sometimes comes with onycholysis. We explain more on our green nail page. At the practice we assess the colour and condition of the nail plate, then choose the right cleaning and care.