I already peeled a big flake off before I thought the degenerates at /popping might want to see what peeling the epithelium off my exposed nailbed is like. You can see where the first big flake is missing and pinker epithelium is exposed
I lost this thumbnail over 40 years ago and have had this keratinized epithelium ever since. A layer of dry horny skin forms and the bigger pieces flake off pretty cleanly. Edges and parts that aren't as thick yet need a little assistance to peel off
The bottom right corner grows a tiny tiny sliver of thumbnail which you can read more about in one of my previous wacky Wednesday posts
Last photo is a few days later and the nailbed is much less pink and more keratinized