infection and injury. The most common cause of
toenail loss is a contagious fungal infection cause by various types of dermatophytes, which are fungi that feed upon the keratin found in the skin and nails. Dermatophytes can also affect the skin, resulting in athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis. The problem with this is that in a warm, moist environment—i.e., the environment found in shoes and socks—the infection can spread rapidly and transfer to the toenails, resulting in onychomycosis.