Why do white spots appear on the nails? What does this mean? How is it treated?

INNA KODRU, JULY 23, 2018

Many things can ruin the first impression. For example, bitten and unkempt nails. But even if everything is in order with neatness, then the white spots that appear out of nowhere on the fingernails, reduces your self-confidence to nothing. Although these white spots on your nails can usually be a sign of a lack of vitamins and minerals, these spots can also appear as a result of a fungal infection. Would you like to know if there are any natural remedies to solve this problem? Read on and we'll tell you everything.

LEUKONICHIA, OR WHITE SPOTS ON THE NAIL

White spots that appear on the nails of the hands or feet are a sign of a condition commonly called leukonychia. These spots usually appear on the nail plates of the fingers or toes. They are not painful, but they can disturb a person in an aesthetic sense.

Some people have white spots that appear as small dots across the entire nail area, while others can be large enough to cover almost the entire surface of the nail.

White spots on the nail plates of the fingers or toes are common and often the result of any of the following factors that we consider.

WHY ARE WHITE SPOTS ON NAILS?

The unexpected appearance of white spots on the nails is due to:

• An allergic reaction to any product you use for your nails


• Fungal infections (eg, white superficial onychomycosis)


• As a result of physical injury to the nail


• Lack of certain minerals, namely zinc and calcium

These white spots vary in appearance and can appear in a wide variety of forms. The most common ones are listed below.

MANIFESTATION OF LEUKONICHIA

White spots are of several types:

• Tiny, "scattered" points on the nail


• Large lines across the entire surface of the nail


• Large, scattered spots

Depending on the cause, these white spots may differ in appearance:

• Bruised nails can also lead to large white patches in the center of the nail plate.


• Allergies often cause small dots all over the nail.

If the white spots that appear start to bother you, and you want to immediately start getting rid of them, then you have come to the right page. Here are some great home remedies to help remove those white spots from your fingernails.

HOW TO REMOVE WHITE SPOTS FROM NAILS AT HOME

1. ESSENTIAL OIL

a. Tea tree oil

You will need:

• 6 drops of tea tree oil


• 15 ml olive oil

What should be done:

• Mix six drops of tea tree oil with 15 ml of olive oil.


• Apply this mixture to your nails and massage well.


• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

How often?

You should do this 1 or 2 times a day for one week.

Why should this help?

Tea tree oil has strong antimicrobial properties that can help remove white spots from your nails. This remedy will be especially necessary if the white spots are caused by a fungal infection.

b. Lavender oil

You will need:

• 6 drops of lavender oil


• 15 ml olive or coconut oil

What should be done:

• Add 6 drops of lavender oil to 15 ml of carrier oil (olive or coconut oil).


• Apply the mixture to your nails and massage well.


• Leave the mixture on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off with water.

How often?

Do this, preferably twice a day, until you see improvement.

Why should this help?

Lavender oil has excellent anti-fungal properties that help in treating stubborn white spots caused by fungal infections. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of this oil can speed up healing and reduce soreness if white spots are the result of any kind of injury.

2. VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Lack of vitamin C, calcium or zinc leads to white spots on the nails of your hands or feet. This means you need to replenish the required amount of these nutrients by adding the necessary foods to your diet.

This includes citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, seafood, nuts, chicken, milk, yogurt, and sardines. The listed products will be an excellent source of nutrients necessary for nails.

3. LEMON JUICE

You will need:

• 1-2 tsp lemon juice


• A few drops of olive oil

What should be done:

• Mix lemon juice with a few drops of olive oil.


• Apply this mixture to your nails.


• Wash it off after 20-30 minutes.

How often?

You must do this once a day.

Why should this help?

Lemon juice is a great remedy to help you get rid of those white spots on your nails. It is rich in vitamin C, which gives you the healthy nails you want, without stains or other discoloration of the nail plate.

4. COCONUT BUTTER

You will need:

• A few drops of organic coconut oil

What should be done:

• Take a few drops of coconut oil and gently massage it into your nails.


• Leave it on overnight.

How often?

Do this daily for best results.

Why should this help?

Coconut oil has many benefits, in particular when we start talking about treating white spots on your nails. This oil has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal both fungal infections and injuries that could lead to white spots.

5. BAKING SODA

You will need:

• 1/2 cup baking soda


• 50ml regular 9% apple cider vinegar


• 50ml warm water

What should be done:

• Take half a glass of baking soda and mix with 50ml of apple cider vinegar.


• Add warm water and stir well.


• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and place your fingers in it for 15 to 20 minutes.

How often?

This should be done once a day for a week.

Why should this help?

Baking soda has disinfecting properties that can help treat the infection responsible for white spots on your fingernails or toenails. Its alkaline environment will help in removing the stains themselves and also help prevent new white spots from forming.

6. YOGHURT

You will need:

• 1 small bowl of classic yogurt

What should be done:

• Place your fingers in a bowl of yogurt for 15-20 minutes.


• Then wash your hands with warm water.

How often?

Do this once a day for 10 days.

Why should this help?

Yogurt exhibits antifungal effects due to the naturally occurring microbes present in it. It is an excellent remedy for treating white spots caused by fungal infections.

6. GARLIC

You will need:

• Chopped garlic, a few cloves

What should be done:

• Grind a few cloves of garlic and apply it to the surface of your nails.


• Cover your fingers with a clean cloth and let the garlic work on them.


• Once the paste is dry, remove the cloth and rinse everything off with warm water.

How often?

It is necessary to carry out this procedure once a day for a week.

Why should this help?

Garlic has very strong anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This remedy can also work well against white spots that have arisen as a result of nail trauma and the effects of fungal infections.

6. ORANGE OIL

You will need:

• 6 drops of orange essential oil


• 15ml of any carrier oil (olive or coconut oil)

What should be done:

• Add six drops of orange oil to 15ml of any carrier oil.


• Apply this mixture to your nails and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.


• Rinse everything off with clean water.

How often?

Use this once a week until a positive result is achieved.

Why should this help?

Orange oil helps in the treatment of any (!) Fungal infections on the nails. This is due to its strong anti-fungal properties, which also contributes to a positive result in the fight against white spots on the nails.

Continue using your chosen remedies until you get the results you want. Here are some tips to prevent these white spots from appearing.

While you can continue to use all of the products mentioned above until you get the desired results, it is also advisable to follow some additional tips to prevent the white spots from reappearing on your nails. These tips include:

• Avoid direct contact with questionable nail products (they may cause irritation).


• Avoid using nail polish too often.


• Keep your nails clean and well-groomed.


• Moisturize your hands after washing dishes or after any other prolonged exposure to detergents.

White spots can be easily avoided by taking good care of your hands and nails. Don't let them ruin the look of your hands! Try the suggested products and say goodbye to white spots on your nails forever.

EXPERTS 'ANSWERS to readers' questions

What nutrient deficiencies are causing white spots on your nails?

Lack of vitamins such as vitamin C and minerals such as zinc and calcium. It is their lack that can lead to a deterioration in the condition of your nails and can cause the appearance of white spots or lines on the nails.

White semicircles at the base of the nail, what is it?

The white semicircles at the base of your nails are called lunulae. Lunula is an integral part of a healthy nail and is an indicator of proper nail growth.

How long does it take for the white spots on the nails to disappear?

White spots on your nails, especially those caused by a fungal infection, may take several months to heal before disappearing as your nails need to be completely renewed.

Many people have encountered such a phenomenon as white spots on their fingernails. If there are few spots and they disappear as the nail grows back, then there is no reason to worry. With the constant appearance of white spots or stripes, you should not hide them behind a manicure, thinking that this is just a small problem. In this case, we can talk about such a pathology as leukonychia.

White spots are formed in the nail plate at the time of its keratinization. They are microscopic air bubbles and signal a malfunction or disturbance in the functioning of the body. The condition of the external organs of a person, such as skin, hair, nails, depends on the functioning of the internal organs. Therefore, a violation in the body after a while manifests itself as problems that can be seen.

It is important to note

The diagnosis of human diseases by the external state of the integument has been used for a long time in China. In modern medicine, this is taken into account when examining. An experienced doctor can tell a lot about the condition of the patient's skin, hair, nails.

White spots on fingernails come in many shapes and sizes. They can occupy a certain place on the nail plate, have a different location in relation to each other. Based on this, we can talk about a particular problem that caused them. The spots on the nails themselves do not harm them in any way, but they are a symptom of various diseases. It is these diseases that need to be treated to eliminate white spots on the nails.

Leukonychia can be expressed by the following types:

• limited: partial damage to the nail plate;
• total: lesion of the entire nail with spots;
• striped: in the form of white stripes;
• pinpoint: white dots.

Spots or lines on your nails can be the result of injury. In this case, they pass as the nail grows back. If there are no external damaging factors for their manifestation, then it is necessary to be examined by a doctor to identify the cause. White fingernails can be caused by a variety of medical conditions that require treatment.

White spots on nails: causes and treatment

Healthy nails are pink in color and have white semicircles at the base of the nail, called a lunula. A well-developed and clear lunula speaks of a healthy body. If it is thin and weakly expressed, then this may indicate problems in the work of certain organs. With age and aging of the body, the white semicircles at the base of the nail begin to thin out and gradually disappear. This occurs in a sequence from pinky to thumb.

If a well-defined white lunula speaks of health, then white spots, which are constant companions, on the contrary, indicate serious violations. It is difficult to diagnose the disease that caused the spots on the hands. You can help with this by understanding the main reasons for their occurrence. To do this, you need to analyze your lifestyle, identify shortcomings.

Causes of white spots on the nails:

1. Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body is most often considered as the cause of this ailment. White dots under the nails are especially common in children and pregnant women. To eliminate this cause, it is necessary to take a vitamin and mineral complex and include healthy foods in the diet.
2. Violation of the digestive tract and metabolism. Especially if it is associated with strict diets or irregular food intake. With a protein deficiency, white stripes may appear under the nails, located in pairs. In this case, the nails become not only striped, but also brittle. During digestion, all substances, including harmful ones, are deposited in the hair, nails, and skin. Therefore, digestive problems such as dysbiosis, indigestion and others affect the condition of the nails.
3. White streaks under the nails can appear as a result of liver disease. This also includes a number of infectious diseases. Intoxication of the body is often clearly manifested on the external organs of a person.
4. Appearing white dots under the nails can indicate vascular disorders. The nail bed contains a large number of capillaries. Damage to them can cause discoloration of the nail plate.
5. Frequent stress and climate change can cause changes in the nail plate. In this case, the spots are usually single, having a different shape and size.
6. Trauma to the nail or chemical damage to it can lead to numerous, randomly located specks. Poor-quality manicure often causes injuries to the nail plate. Continuous exposure to chemicals also contributes to nail damage.
7. White spots on the nails are caused by fungal nail disease. The fungus may not manifest itself for a long time. Sometimes it is detected when the deformation of the nail plate occurs and spots appear.

As can be seen from the above, if white spots appear on the nails, the reasons may be different. Treatment of leukonychia will be successful with an accurate diagnosis.

Leukonychia treatment:

• Lubricate your nails with an oil solution of vitamin A or E (fish oil can be used). After 15 minutes, put your hands in a warm bath with saline solution. Take a hand bath for about 20 minutes. Towel dry your hands. Apply a nourishing cream to the nails.
• Take hand baths with decoctions of chamomile, parsley, oak bark.
• Use a medicated varnish that contains calcium and minerals.

If the stains on your nails were caused by trauma, stress or poor nutrition, you can restore them to their healthy appearance on your own.

Treatment of leukonychia with lifestyle changes:

• eating the right and balanced food;
• saturation of the body with trace elements and vitamins;
• good sleep and rest;
• walks in the open air.

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There are many ways to diagnose diseases. External examination, patient questioning, radiography, ultrasound diagnostics, as well as computed tomography can tell a lot about our health. But only in the case when the disease has already developed or is in a stage close to the beginning of development. But what if you don't have an ultrasound machine or a tomograph at hand? Or is the disease still invisible? So, many people think about the causes of white spots on the fingernails. Where do they come from and what do they signal?

Take a look at your nails

Nails, as well as hair and skin, are the first to signal that things are not going well in the body. If the color, shape and general condition of the nail plates change, there is a reason to consult a doctor.

In China, for example, the examination of the nails is the main one in the treatment of the patient. the energy channels of the hands are directly connected with the internal organs.

Nails tell us about the changes in health that have occurred over the past six months. This happens because this period is required for a complete renewal of the nail plate. The appearance of blotches on it can also indicate a genetic predisposition to the disease. Knowing this, you can prevent many diseases.

The presence of hepatitis, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, and cancer is determined by the nails. This list can include kidney pathology and diseases of the spine, circulatory disorders and even fungus.

The main causes of white spots

Before you go to the doctor, still try to figure out for yourself what is the reason for the poor condition of the nails. Thus, you will make it easier for the doctor, because the treatment of the disease is to eliminate the cause, not the symptom.

What can you do yourself? First, restore your daily routine. Take a vacation or just try to get some rest. Review your diet, make your food more complete. Vegetables, fruits, vegetable and animal proteins are what you need in this case. Fermented milk products, spinach, parsley and celery are useful. Take a course of vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

Fungal diseases can be recognized by the accompanying itching and burning, the appearance of cracks in the skin. This is the hypostasis of a dermatovenerologist - it is he who should be paid a visit in the coming days. You can go to a regular clinic or to a private institution. Fungus treatment should not be trusted by the masters in beauty salons.

A nail injury cannot be treated. You should wait until it grows back. But to help the regrowth process, you can use castor oil, tea tree oil or special medicinal creams. Oil solutions of vitamins A and E are also used.

Microtrauma resulting from poor-quality manicure, as well as damage caused by chemicals, can be corrected at home. Hot medical baths should be done daily, followed by the application of nutritional formulations.

Of the drugs, fluconazole, levorin are effective, among antifungal drugs - nizoral and clotrimazole. When choosing vitamins, pay attention to the compatibility of some of them. For example, calcium cannot be absorbed without vitamin D.

Here are some tips for home nail care:

1. Salt baths. Add some table or sea salt to a container of warm water. Put your hands in there and hold for about ten minutes. Repeat this procedure at least twice a week.
2. Herbal infusions. Buy oak bark and chamomile flowers at the pharmacy. Mix in equal proportions and brew. Make the same bath as for salt. At the end of the procedure, lubricate your nails with a nutritious oil.
3. Iodine. They can be used to lubricate the affected areas, and can also be added to hot baths.
4. Lemon juice and various oils. Did you know that nails love acid and grease the most? If not, then here are excellent remedies for preventing breakage and other problems. After cutting the lemon in half, place your nails directly into the lemon pulp and hold for a while. Lemon juice also whitens. Take any oil you have at home, be it cosmetic or herbal, and lubricate your nails and cuticles as often as possible throughout the day. The appearance of the hands will return to normal very quickly.

You can also use formulations with several ingredients:

• 65 milliliters of olive oil, 5 drops of vitamin A and three drops of iodine;
• Dissolve five drops of lemon juice in one hundred milliliters of warm vegetable oil;
• add a tablespoon of sea salt to the warm broth of parsley.

Remember that the presence of white spots on the nails is not a happy omen, as some think, but a signal that your body needs help. Don't ignore him.

A pathological change in the nail plates, the symptoms of which are white spots on the nails of the left and right fingers, sometimes including discolored stripes on the nails, has the medical name leukonychia.

The disease affects not only the fingers, white spots on the toenails are formed for the same reasons, and are associated with keratization (keratinization) of the plates.

Causes of the disease

What do these changes mean? The most common cause of white spots on fingernails is minor damage to the nail matrix - the base from which it begins to grow.

Damage to the matrix causes the formation of microscopic air bubbles between the layers of the nail and spreading along the nail plate.

Symptoms of leukonychia associated with nail damage disappear as they grow. Most often, these changes are harmless and occur in healthy people.

Usually, white spots under the nails are not associated with a lack of nutrition or any medical condition. However, nutritional deficiencies can trigger the development of leukonychia.

Other reasons why white spots appear on the nails include health related disorders:

• deficiency of zinc, iron, or protein in the body;
• psychological stress;
• heart diseases;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• avitaminosis;
• pneumonia;
• ulcerative colitis;
• psoriasis and eczema;
• renal failure;
• arsenic or lead poisoning;
• general deterioration in human health.

Frequent and occupational finger injuries also contribute to the disorder.

Types of leukonychia

In medicine, several types of leukonychia are distinguished. It can be total, limited, striped, longitudinal and point types of the disease. Each has its own symptomatology.

Total leukonychia

This condition is associated with damage to the entire nail plate. Total leukonychia can be a clinical sign of hypoalbuminemia - a pathological condition associated with a low level of albumin protein in the body, which occurs in some disorders:

• liver failure;
• enteropathy (loss of plasma proteins through the gastrointestinal tract);
• nephrotic syndrome (a form of renal failure);
• protein malabsorption, or protein-energy malnutrition.

Genetic factors, as well as the side effects of sulfonamides (antimicrobial agents), can also cause damage to the entire area of ​​the plate.

Limited leukonychia

This condition causes whitening of a part of the nail plate, and is diagnosed when small white dots appear on it.

There are several options for limited leukonychia, the signs of which include the formation of dots, transverse and longitudinal stripes on the nail.

Changes in the state of health with limited leukonychia can lead to total leukonychia.

Leukonychia striped

This type of leukonychia causes a discoloration of the nail in the form of white stripes that form parallel to the lunula (crescent at its base).

The condition is usually caused by physical damage or destruction of the matrix. Typical examples of such injuries include over-pressing or pinching the nail in doors, or frequent use of manicure in women.

In addition, it can be caused by metal poisoning (most often lead), as well as cirrhosis of the liver and chemotherapy.

Sometimes this pathology is inherited genetically in an autosomal dominant manner. The cause of this condition is also associated with a large number of systemic diseases. Serious infections that cause fever, measles, or herpes are also the cause.

Striped leukonychia can also develop on the big toe as a result of a shoe injury.

In many cases, there is no obvious reason for the disorder, but the veins usually resolve on their own.

There is a similar condition of striped leukonychia, which differs in that the stripes disappear when the plate is pressed and do not migrate with the growth of the nail.

Leukonychia punctate

This condition is the most common form in which small white spots appear on the nails. The structure and number of spots often change as the nails grow.

Most often, if white spots appear on one or more fingers or toes, the cause of pinpoint leukonychia is damage to the base (matrix) of the nail.

In addition to keratinization of the nail layer, the cause of the condition can also be air trapped between the nail layers or trauma to the plate itself.

In a child, the symptoms of pinpoint leukonychia are often caused by nail biting as they grow.

If point leukonychia is provoked by damage to the plate itself, the white spots disappear after about eight months, which is the period of time in which the plate is completely replaced during its growth.

Longitudinal leukonychia

This condition of the nails develops much less frequently than other types of leukonychia and includes the formation of white longitudinal lines less than 1 mm in size, visible under the plate.

Common causes of longitudinal leukonychia are vitamin deficiency, micronutrient deficiencies, circulatory disorders, bowel problems, and arthritis.

Longitudinal leukonychia is also associated with Darier's disease, which is said to be caused by keratinization of the cells of the epidermis of the skin.

Diagnostics and treatment

When determining the causes of leukonychia, medical history is carefully studied, and blood tests are prescribed to identify which vitamins are lacking in the human body.

Tests are also performed to show liver and kidney function to determine what the symptoms of the disease mean in a particular case.

In determining the cause of a disease, an intracellular blood cell test is considered more accurate than tests that measure plasma blood levels.

When a disease is detected, its special treatment is usually not carried out. However, a decrease in the symptoms of leukonychia is often noted with an improvement in nutrition, which makes up for the deficiency of essential trace elements in the blood.

It is recommended to eat more foods rich in protein, zinc, as well as vitamins and minerals. Nuts, as well as leafy vegetables, are rich in zinc, and symptoms of the disease are usually significantly reduced with regular use.

If your nail problem is caused by anemia, treatment includes folic acid tablets and iron supplements. If symptoms appear due to renal failure, the underlying disease is treated.

Suitable remedies are also used if there are liver problems or ulcers.

Prevention of leukonychia

You can reduce the likelihood of developing pathology by taking better care of your fingers and protecting them from excessive physical stress and injury.

What does this mean in practice? Prevention to reduce the number of nail problems includes a number of tips:

1. Do not bite or pull on the barbs, always use special cutting pliers.
2. Keep them dry and clean. It is better to trim your nails after bathing, when they are still quite damp and soft.
3. Use sharp nail scissors, cut them straight across, rounding the tips gently.
4. If there are problems with brittle or loose nails, keep them short to avoid breaking them.
5. If you are performing a professional manicure or pedicure, you need to make sure that the nail salon is certified, which means that it is using the correct sterilization and care methods.
6. Active use should be avoided. It is important to apply a lotion to moisturize your nails and nail cuticles.
7. It is necessary to consult a doctor if there are additional problems with the development of the disease in order to rule out any serious complications.

If symptoms do not improve within 2-8 months, it is best to consult with your doctor to determine if the disease is due to any health problems or an undetected infection.

Conclusion

Symptoms of leukonychia can be associated with damage to the base of the nail or nutritional deficiencies in the body, and only in rare cases is it caused by systemic diseases.

Until the pathological symptoms disappear, it is recommended to use nail polish to hide the resulting white spots. However, polish sometimes causes similar symptoms and should be used with caution.