How To Care For Ripped Nail. If the nail has cracked off from side to side -- without leaving a rough edge -- you can skip. In severe cases the nail might get completely ripped off.
Take over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin or acetaminophen to minimize discomfort in your finger and hand. Losing a toenail or fingernail because of an injury is called avulsion. It can be treated by removing your nail and trimming some of the nail matrix which is the tissue your nail rests on.
Prevent ingrown toenails.
Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before applying the ointment. Bandaging the area will also help keep it clean and free from infection. The individual should use sterile scissors or nail clippers to carefully cut the nail off at the tear. A ripped fingernail is at risk for infection without proper treatment.