AbstractIn order to determine the presence of dermatophytes and saprophytes in healthy toe and finger nails, 120 students (60 male and 60 female) from preparatory schools at Sohag Governorate (Upper Egypt) were studied. 54 species in addition to 3 varieties belonging to 17 genera were isolated. Six species of true dermatophytes were collected:Microsporum audouiniivar.rivalieri, M. cookei, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. simii, T. terrestreandT. verrucosum. Chrysosporium, a well‐known keratinophilic genus, was prevalent and represented by 7 species (C. asperatum, C. indicum, C. keratinophilum, C. luteum, C. pannorum, C. tropicumandChrysosporiumstate ofThielavia sepedonium). The commonest saprophytes in order of frequency were members of the generaAspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Scopulariopsis, Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Chaetomium, Syncephalastrum, Mucor, RhizopusandAcremoniu