What does the appearance of white marks on the nails mean?

England – Small white marks appear on our nails from time to time, and although they are often nothing to worry regarding, they can sometimes indicate serious underlying conditions.

It is often believed that white marks on the nails result from a deficiency of some minerals such as calcium and zinc, but this is not always the real reason behind their appearance.

Doctors call the white lines that appear on the nails “nail bleaching.”

Nail whitening can be divided into different types, namely: global onychomycosis, partial onychomycosis, striped onychomycosis, dotted onychomycosis, and longitudinal onychomycosis, based on the shape of the white spots on the nails and their sizes.

What causes white marks on nails?

Most often, nail bleaching occurs as a result of trauma to the nail, which can be as simple as excessive clicking or chewing.

By the time you see the white mark, you may have forgotten why it appeared.

Sometimes a reaction can be caused by something like an allergic reaction to nail polish or nail polish remover.

Your nails can also be severely damaged by the chemicals used in applying and removing compound or gel nails.

But if your entire nail turns white, it may be more serious and you should see a doctor.

Completely white nails can be caused by potentially fatal conditions, such as cirrhosis, kidney failure or heart disease, according to the NHS.

If the white marks are in the form of lines, they may also be a sign of low protein levels in the blood.

Another reason for white spots on your toenails might be a common nail fungus called white superficial onychomycosis.

Although the first sign of infection may appear as small white dots on the nails, the infection can grow and spread to the base of the nail, making toenails appear scaly before becoming thick and brittle.

How do I get rid of white marks on nails?

There is currently no treatment for white marks on nails. These marks disappear naturally over time if they are caused by an injury.

However, if it is caused by something other than trauma, the doctor will need to determine the cause in order to treat it separately.

Source: The Sun