why does a toenail drop off without any previous damage obvious?


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Generally, a toenail or fingernail falls off from one of two causes: previous injury, or fungal infection.

You don't necessarily show sings of damage if you have an injury. I lost a fingernail years ago for no apparent reason. I hadn't hurt my finger, and then suddenly one day I looked at my nail, and realized there was just one tiny thread of skin holding it to the bed. I kept it wrapped in a bandage as long as possible, and one day when I changed the bandage, the nail came with it. My doctor told me the injury was probably so old and so minor I did not notice or remember when it happened. He said nails are often affected by injury at the lunula (the little half moon part at the base of the nail) and it takes a while for the nail to grow out and fall off. So, even stubbing your toe really hard months ago could be the cause, and you have just forgotten about it.

Nail fungus is terribly common, as well. It's especially a problem for women who get pedicures at salons, but everyone and anyone can get one. It's sometimes very hard to notice, because if you keep your toenails polished, they often, over time, take on a yellowish tinge from the colors in nail polish. My toenails have been perpetually polished for about 23 years, with just the briefest periods of no-polish, and they are significantly discolored despite the fact that I use a base coat. Was the nail whole and intact and strong? Or was it flaky and weak? If it was weak, or soft, it could be a fungus. Talk to your doctor first, and find out if it is a fungus, and then try an OTC treatment first. Those infections can be difficult to get rid of, however, so you might need to go back and get a prescription medication for it.

Either way, good luck. Good thing sandal weather is over!
because theres a new 1 underneath and the other 1 isnt needed


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