White Spots on Fingernails

Fingernails have long been associated with good health. So it is no wonder that people get worked up when they see any sort of discoloration on their finger as well as toe nails. Fingernails protect the underlying delicate tissues of the fingers. Nails are made up of layers of a hardened protein called keratin (also found in hair and skin).

Healthy fingernails are mostly smooth and without ridges or spots. White spots on fingernails is medically termed as leukonychia, which is derived from the Greek words leuko and onyx which means white and nail, respectively. This condition is more common in fingernails than in toenails and is quite harmless.

Depending upon the severity and quantity of discoloration, leukonychia can be categorized into the following:

Leukonychia Punctata: It is the most common form of this condition, and out here small white spots appear on nails. Picking and biting of the nails are a prominent reason in young children and nail biters.

Leukonychia Striata: Leukonychia striata or Mee's lines are a whitening or discoloration of the nail in bands or "stria" that run parallel to the nail base. It may be caused by cirrhosis or physical injury to the nail matrix. The tendency for leukonychia striata is sometimes inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. In other cases, it can be attributed to vigorous manicuring or to a wide variety of systemic illnesses.

Leukonychia Partialis: Here the nail gets partially whitened or discolored.

Leukonychia Totalis: In this form, the entire nail is whitened. This may be a clinical sign of low albumin, which can be seen in nephrotic syndrome (a form of kidney failure), liver failure, and protein malabsorption. Genetic conditions and the side effects of sulphonamides, a family of antibiotics, can also cause this appearance.

• In certain instances, a mild bacterial or fungal infection can cause leuconychia.
• The most common reason is an injury to the fingernail. Even a normal injury where the fingernails get bruised or hit against hard surfaces can lead to the formation of these spots.

• When the nail bed is traumatized due to some harsh injury, the blood gets clotted. Out here, white spots appear with the passage of time.
• An allergic reaction to nail enamels or hardener, or a badly done manicure can also cause leukonychia.

• Certain strong drugs, a chemotherapy treatment, or zinc deficiency could also lead to white spots on nails.
• People with congenital leukonychia also develop these spots quite occasionally.

These spots usually appear and disappear on their own. It becomes a cause of worry only when the fingernail begins to turn completely white. Completely white nails could be a symptom of liver disease.

In leuconychia, the spots are usually white in color but sometimes they appear more pink than white. Treatment is not required if the spots cause no harm. Spot formation can be kept at bay through nail care, which involves preventive measures like reducing possibilities of minor injury to the nails. Also, avoid using products that can cause an infection or irritate the nail.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.