Nail Your Future with the 2025 Illinois Nail Technician Practice Test Extravaganza!

The correct answer is infection, as improper protection of the nail bed can lead to complications that allow bacteria or fungi to enter and thrive. The nail bed serves as a barrier that protects the underlying tissue, and when this protection is compromised—due to injury, improper nail care, or exposure to unsanitary conditions—there is an increased risk that pathogens can invade, resulting in an infection.

While nail discoloration can occur for various reasons, such as the use of certain nail products or underlying health conditions, it does not specifically result from a lack of protection of the nail bed. Nail pterygium, which is characterized by the abnormal growth of skin over the nail bed, typically results from trauma or inflammatory conditions rather than the direct lack of protection. The overgrowth of the lunula is not a common issue associated with nail care practices and does not correlate with the protection of the nail bed. Therefore, infection is the most relevant and critical consequence of neglecting to protect the nail bed adequately.