Healthy nails have a single white crescent at the base of each nail, known as a lunula, and are soft pink in colour on both fingers and toes. What then are those seemingly random white patches on nails? Leukonychia is the medical term for nail deformities involving these white patches. Although you may have heard that this illness is linked to mineral deficiencies, there is more to it than that. White spots can result from a variety of sources, including injuries, infections, and underlying medical disorders. There are numerous methods available to help you get rid of them. Let’s examine this disease in more detail so that you can treat it and learn how to remove white spots from nails with a few simple steps.
What Are White Spots On Nails And How Do They Look?
Leukonychia partialis, or white spots on nails, is a type of partial white discolouration of the nails. The Greek words leuko, which means white, and onyx, which means nail, are the roots of the English word leukonychia. You may have one of the following three varieties of partial leukonychia (1), depending on how the white patches look on your nails:
- Leukonychia Striata
You may have leukonychia striata if the white spot on your nail resembles a horizontal band that runs parallel to the lunula, the nail’s half-moon-shaped base. Known also as Mees lines, these typically outgrow the nail throughout time.
- Prolongative Leukonychia
Multiple pale white bands that are at least 1 mm thick and run parallel to the nail base are the appearance of longitudinal leukonychia.
- The Punctata Leukonychia
The most prevalent kind of leukonychia, known as leukonychia punctata, resembles little white dots on nails. These usually vanish with time. Nevertheless, the quantity and arrangement of the dots may alter as the nail grows.
Nail trauma or damage to the matrix (base) is the most frequent cause of these white patches. Let’s look at a few more possible causes of white patches on nails.
What Are The Major Causes Of White Spots On Nails?
- Fungal Disease
A common nail fungus called white superficial onychomycosis causes little white patches to grow on your nails. This nail infection can also affect your fingernails, albeit it is more common to afflict toenails (2).
In a study on onychomycosis involving 3,226 patients, it was found that men are more likely than women to develop nail fungus (40% vs. 23%), that toenails are more frequently infected (69%) than fingernails (31%) in both sexes, and that dermatophytes (48%) is the most common fungus found in toenails.
Damage Or Allergic Reactions Associated With Nail Products
These white patches might result from using nail products based on acrylic or gel, which can harm your nails. Moreover, nail discolouration and white patches or spots may result from an allergic reaction to nail products such as gloss, polish, remover, or hardener (3).
- Inadequate Mineral
White spots on nails are commonly attributed to a zinc or calcium deficit. However, some research indicates that white patches on nails are not caused by a zinc or calcium deficit (4). In any case, obtaining enough minerals such as copper, zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc does play a role in general nail health (5). The composition of the nail plate may be negatively impacted and more vulnerable to damage if there is a mineral shortage. Therefore, treating a vitamin deficit in nails is typically regarded as a crucial aspect of treatment, even if there is no concrete data regarding how mineral shortages may cause white spots (6).
A blogger known as Nail Luxxe describes how she was told she had a calcium shortage after noticing white spots on her nails during a manicure. Her doctor revealed to her years later that they were brought on by a small nail trauma. “I took this to mean that it was similar to a scar,” the woman continues. But the white mark doesn’t go away like a healed scar does. You must wait for it to fully mature (i).
- Other Reasons
Rarely, underlying illnesses like heart disease, pneumonia, psoriasis or dermatitis, and renal failure may be the cause of white spots on nails. Nail white discolouration could also be caused by arsenic exposure. In rare instances, systemic diseases—diseases affecting several systems in the body—may also result in white nail colour (7).
Benigni white spots on nails can be treated at home with a few easy steps. See the following section for further information on these treatments.
Home Remedies For White Spots On Nails
- Eat Foods Rich In Minerals
Add foods high in these minerals to your diet to help your nail plate become stronger and heal from trauma damage more quickly (8).
- Apply coloured or skin-toned nail polish.
For a temporary fix, paint over the white areas with nail polish. For a more natural look, paint a layer of high-quality nail polish that complements your skin tone. You might also try out some vibrant colours.
- Steer clear of allergen exposure
You might want to stop using a particular nail product if white spots started to emerge on your nails after using it. In order to prevent future exposure to that substance, it could be beneficial to review the ingredients and determine whether you might be allergic to any of them.
Since the entire nail plate on your fingers regenerates over a period of six months, white patches on the nail typically disappear on their own during that time (9). On the other hand, there can be circumstances in which you require medical assistance.
When Should You Consult A Doctor?
Should you be concerned about the white patches on your nails or believe that a fungal infection is the source of the discolouration, speak with your doctor. Among the indicators are:
- distinct white patches on nails
- White patches that seem to be expanding
- flaky and pitted areas
- bad odour coming from the nails
Once the cause of the discolouration has been identified, the doctor will determine the best course of action.
How To Diagnose This Condition?
Your doctor has multiple options for moving forward with the diagnostic processes. They might do one or more of the following, depending on what they suspect:
- The doctor might recommend mycology, which involves testing nail clippings for the presence of fungus.
- The physician might remove a tiny bit of nail tissue for a nail biopsy.
- If there seems to be an underlying systemic condition, a blood test might be recommended.
Your healthcare professional will decide on the necessary course of action after the results are in.
Medical Treatment Options
Your doctor’s decision for the course of therapy will be based on the findings of diagnostic testing. Oral and topical antifungal drug prescriptions are the most typical form of treatment. The full resolution of a fungal infection can take up to three months. The doctor may start treating the underlying problem if the white spots point to an underlying illness.
There is no specific treatment for white spots brought on by trauma or injury; instead, you must wait for the spots to outgrow your nails. As mentioned in the next section, there are steps you can do to reduce your risk of developing white spots.
How To Prevent The Formation Of White Spots On Nails?
There are certain nail care techniques you may do to protect your nails, even though you have no control over whether you will have white spots or not.
Avoiding contact with chemicals and irritants (such as acrylates, formaldehyde, and toluene sulfonamide-formaldehyde resin) as these might result in allergic contact dermatitisi, which can damage, dry out, and irritate the nail plates as well as the surrounding skin (3)
- Refraining from using nail polish excessively
- Keeping nails clipped and brief
- Applying a moisturiser following hand washing to avoid desiccation
Infographic: Causes And Natural Remedies For White Spots On Nails
There are several reasons why you could get white patches on your nails. They could result from an underlying medical condition or an injury. Understanding the cause of this illness will enable you to treat it successfully. See the infographic below for a list of natural remedies and the reasons for white patches on your nails.
In conclusion, product damage or nail injuries are the most frequent causes of white spots on nails. Partial leukonychia is the name of the condition itself, which is generally benign but can occasionally be a sign of underlying medical issues. White areas can be cosmetically covered up with nail paint until they eventually disappear as your nails grow outwards. Eat more foods high in minerals and keep your nails away from allergies and harsh chemicals found in cosmetics to take better care of them. In conclusion, since fungal infections can occasionally be the cause of white spots, be aware of the symptoms and get medical help if you’re worried.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vitamin is beneficial for nail white spots?
Even while vitamin deficiencies are not the cause of white spots on nails, taking supplements of vitamins B and C may help lessen the appearance of these lesions.
Can white spots on nails be caused by a vitamin D deficiency?
No, white spots on the nails cannot be caused by a vitamin D deficit. We covered the common reasons of white patches on nails above.
Why are there white specks on my child’s nails?
An damage to the nail plate is one of the most frequent reasons why children get white spots on their nails. To find out whether the child has any underlying skin conditions, speak with your doctor.
What’s up with those annoying white patches on your nails? Watch this video to learn more about the causes of these issues and to receive management and prevention advice.
