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What serious illness makes your toenails fall off?
A nail fungal infection, known as onychomycosis, is one of the most common reasons that toenails detach from the nail bed and fall off.
How do I stop my toe from falling off?
Trim your toenails straight across (instead of rounding them off) and keep them even with the edges of your toes. Make sure your shoes are a thumb’s width longer than your longest toe. Wear steel-toed boots or shoes if you work in an area that increases your risk of having something heavy fall on your feet.
Can diabetes cause toenails to fall off?
Diabetes can also restrict circulation to your feet, which creates the right conditions for fungus to grow and your toenail to fall off. When fungus grows untreated on your foot, it can sever the connective tissue between your toenail and your foot. And eventually, that causes to your toenail falling off.
Can cancer cause toenails to fall off?
Fingernails and toenails can become weak and brittle during chemotherapy. 1 They may also separate from the tissue that holds nails in place (onycholysis) and fall off after several rounds of treatment, but this is less common.
What medication causes toenails to fall off?
Drugs that can cause onycholysis and photo-onycholysis include:
- Psoralens (photochemotherapy or PUVA)
- Doxycycline.
- Thiazide diuretics.
- Oral contraceptives.
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
- Taxanes.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Captopril.
Should I be worried if my toenail falls off?
Outcome. While a toenail falling off is usually not a major medical concern, it can be painful and annoying. In some cases, a damaged or detaching toenail may become infected, or it may be a sign of a more serious medical condition.
What does onycholysis look like?
Nail lifting (onycholysis) is the spontaneous separation (detachment) of the fingernail or toenail from the nail bed at the end of the nail (distal) and/or on the sides of the nail (lateral). The appearance of nail lifting may resemble a half-moon, or the free edge of the nail may rise up like a hood.
What medications cause toenails to fall off?
Various anti-infective drugs, including tetracyclines, quinolones, clofazimine and zidovudine, cause the nail plate to detach from the nail bed after exposure to light, or cause nail discoloration. Psoralens and retinoids can also have the same effects.
What does it mean when your toenails fall off for no reason?
It’s usually caused by an injury, fungal infection, or psoriasis. However, chemicals, certain medications, and serious illness can also make your toenail fall off. Once your toenail falls off, it can’t reattach itself and keep growing. You’ll need to wait for the new nail to grow back in its place.
What medications can cause toenails to fall off?
Can stress make your toenails fall off?
Brittle, peeling nails also are a common side effect of stress. “Sometimes patients with nail problems are not aware that their habits or tics from being stressed out or nervous are at the root of their problem,” said Dr. Mayoral.
Is onycholysis serious?
Onycholysis is when a person’s nail or nails detach from the skin underneath. Although not a serious health condition by itself, onycholysis can be a symptom of a potentially serious illness. It is important for a person to understand what onycholysis is and what it may mean so they can make informed medical decisions.