My client mentioned when i did her nails 4 weeks ago that it hurt when i pushed her cuticle back (i only did this very gently) on one nail and she has just come in and her nail looks like this! Everything i use is sanitary and i dont reuse files please help any advice welcome
Help please, problem with client's nail
- Thread starter sarahh
- Start date
Help Support SalonGeek:
Oh, I am so sorry for you - you must feel awful for being in such situation! Hang in there!
It's pretty hard to see as I cannot zoom in enough, but it doesn't look like anything of infectious nature.
Seems her nail is lifting and there is some kind of a hole in nale plate - right? If so then it means there has been physical damage to nail matrix - some people have it really close to cuticle area. If it was just lifting it wouldn't be as worrying, however, the hole (if what I see is correct) is worrying - as it seems to be result of permanent damage to nail matrix.
It's pretty hard to see as I cannot zoom in enough, but it doesn't look like anything of infectious nature.
Seems her nail is lifting and there is some kind of a hole in nale plate - right? If so then it means there has been physical damage to nail matrix - some people have it really close to cuticle area. If it was just lifting it wouldn't be as worrying, however, the hole (if what I see is correct) is worrying - as it seems to be result of permanent damage to nail matrix.
Thank you so much for replying to me! Yes i feel awful! I didnt push her cuticles back roughly but she is super rough with her nails and i feel responsible as i know i hurt her accidentally
what would you recommend i do? We skipped over doing that nail as i didnt want to make it worse, and im unsure of what to do about it as i have never seen this beforeIt was correct not to perform service on the nail - if the nail bed and/or matrix is exposed, performing service on such nail may cause even greater problems.
You should advise your client to wear gloves while doing dishes, cleaning, etc. - to protect this nail unit in particular, as well as, all the rest from exposure to chemicals and dirt. If the client is experiencing pain, swelling, redness and other symptoms associated with inflamation within this nail unit she should go and see doctor.
What you and your client should expect to happen with nail unit? Most likley nail plate will completely seperate and come off, however, new nail plate should be formed by nail matrix in mean time, so within 8 months her nail should be as new. Yet, the hole in nail plate worries me - as previously I mentioned it might be sign of permanent nail matrix damage, which means, that nail matrix in this area won't be forming new nail plate (you can google more about nail matrix damage for some scientific papers to understand better). In such case (permanent damage) there really ain't anything that can be done - maybe (depending on damage) it could be sculpted by gel to visually make it look good/better.
Why this happened? Well, if client is hard on her hands/nails and her nail matrix is genetically located near proximal nail fold that may have made it more prone to damage, which you couldn't know... so even slight manipulation to this area may have huge impact. In future, for this client, I suggest you use orangewood stick instead metal cuticle pusher and just scrape off cuticle of nail plate, but do not push it back.
Don't blame your self - if what you said is true (you were gentle & client is harsh on her nails), yet I understand it is hard. Appologise to client, maybe offer service once for free. Explain, that this is not typical to happen and this is your first experience with something like this ever.
Sorry for typos - english is not my first language and I am in great hurry. Hopefully you understood everything I wrote.
You should advise your client to wear gloves while doing dishes, cleaning, etc. - to protect this nail unit in particular, as well as, all the rest from exposure to chemicals and dirt. If the client is experiencing pain, swelling, redness and other symptoms associated with inflamation within this nail unit she should go and see doctor.
What you and your client should expect to happen with nail unit? Most likley nail plate will completely seperate and come off, however, new nail plate should be formed by nail matrix in mean time, so within 8 months her nail should be as new. Yet, the hole in nail plate worries me - as previously I mentioned it might be sign of permanent nail matrix damage, which means, that nail matrix in this area won't be forming new nail plate (you can google more about nail matrix damage for some scientific papers to understand better). In such case (permanent damage) there really ain't anything that can be done - maybe (depending on damage) it could be sculpted by gel to visually make it look good/better.
Why this happened? Well, if client is hard on her hands/nails and her nail matrix is genetically located near proximal nail fold that may have made it more prone to damage, which you couldn't know... so even slight manipulation to this area may have huge impact. In future, for this client, I suggest you use orangewood stick instead metal cuticle pusher and just scrape off cuticle of nail plate, but do not push it back.
Don't blame your self - if what you said is true (you were gentle & client is harsh on her nails), yet I understand it is hard. Appologise to client, maybe offer service once for free. Explain, that this is not typical to happen and this is your first experience with something like this ever.
Sorry for typos - english is not my first language and I am in great hurry. Hopefully you understood everything I wrote.
Beauty by Roo
Well-Known Member
Try not to worry too much, for it to hurt when you pushed the cuticle back must mean there was already a problem...only time will tell if it heals or is permanent damage xx
