Have you ever noticed those white spots or streaks in your fingernails and wondered what they indicate? Often, we will be concerned about these tiny marks, which might also be a silent sign of an underlying health issue. Do those white dots mean nutritional deficiencies? Further, let’s have a close look at what those white spots mean, what causes them, and whether your diet can do anything to improve that.

What are white spots on nails?

The actual medical term used to mention those white spots on nails is also known as leukonychia. These can appear as white dots, lines, or even huge patches on the nail plate. Often, they may scare you, but mostly, those white spots on your nails are harmless. Further, the types of leukonychia include:

Punctate leukonychia: In this, there will be small white dots, and it’s the most common type.

Striate leukonychia: In this type, there will be a horizontal line on your nails.

Total leukonychia: Your whole nail will appear white, a very rare condition.

Partial leukonychia: Part of your nail will be white.

Why do I get white spots on my nails?

As mentioned above, these white spots on nails are typically harmless and often result from minor injuries to the nail matrix. Also, these white spots can occur due to the allergic reactions to the chemicals that you apply on your nails, like nail polish or nail hardeners, often undergoing manicures, or nail trauma, you might not even notice.

On the other hand, those white spots may indicate some deficiencies like zinc, calcium, or protein, though this is less common. Rarely, they can be linked to underlying health problems such as fungal infections or, more rarely, systemic conditions. Whenever it starts spreading, it’s time to consult a healthcare provider.

Are these white spots on nails good or bad?

White spots on nails or leukonychia are usually harmless and quite common in human beings. Most of the time, it is caused by trauma or injury to the nail, such as bumping your nail or getting a rough manicure. These kinds of spots typically grow out on their own, and they are not a cause for concern.

Also, if those white spots often appear and attack multiple nails at the same time, it could indicate a nutritional deficiency, like zinc, calcium, or protein. Very rarely, they could also signal an underlying health condition like fungal infection, eczema, or even problems with the liver or kidneys.

So, understand that occasional white spots are not harmful, but should give attention when they persist. In case you are witnessing them often, it’s better to evaluate your diet and overall health, or reach out to a healthcare provider to diagnose the underlying medical or nutritional concerns.

What causes those white spots on nails?

Allergies: Sometimes, you may apply nail polish or other substances on your nails, while your nail may react to those products and cause white spots on your nails. Those products include nail polish, nail hardener, nail gloss, nail polish remover, and even fake nails.
Injuries: The most common causes of those white spots on nails are injuries to the nail plate or matrix. Right from hitting your nail to dealing with a small-sized shoe, or even biting your nails, can injure your nails. Often, visiting a nail salon to get manicures will significantly injure these areas, too. During the process of manicure, intense force will be applied to trim your nails.
Fungal infections: Discoloration will arise in your nails when it is affected by fungal infections (at times, they might look like they have white spots), cracked, or thick.
Poisoning: Sometimes those white spots may appear in your nails when you are exposing your nails to toxic heavy metals, even arsenic and lead. Even chemotherapies and medicines used for bacterial infections or UTIs can cause white spots on your nails.
Systemic diseases: With systemic diseases, your entire body will get affected, even at times, those white spots on your nails remain as a sign of systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, HIV, psoriasis, and liver cirrhosis.
Hereditary conditions: At times, biological parents will pass down a few things to their kids through genes, while these genes are responsible for an individual’s physical traits, even hair color, eye color, and height. Hereditary conditions that disturb your nails, including Bart-Pumphery syndrome and Darier disease, may cause white spots to appear.

Do any deficiencies cause these white spots on nails?

Healthcare providers are not sure that these white spots are actually caused by any deficiencies. Simply, a deficiency is a shortage of vital substances in your body that are crucial for your health, such as a few vitamins and minerals. Also, one set of individuals believes that poor minerals, like iron, calcium, and zinc, remain a reason for white spots on nails. Others may think it might be a vitamin deficiency, but still, few people think that this is not true, or often feel like there is no proper evidence to make precise conclusions.

You need to understand that trauma remains a most significant cause, but in a few cases, nutrient shortfalls may cause those white spots on nails, notably when the white spots are persistent or accompanied by other signs like brittle nails, fatigue, and hair loss.

Zinc deficiency:

Insufficient zinc levels can cause white dots on nails, also you will experience slow healing of wounds, thinning of hair, and weakened immunity.

Calcium deficiency:

Calcium is crucial for strong nails and bones. So, calcium deficiency will make your nails more brittle, and they can easily break, but it doesn’t have any connection to white spots on nails.

Iron deficiency or Anemia:

Iron deficiency will disturb the oxygen supply to your nail matrix, which will result in various nail changes like spoon-shaped nails, ridges, and at times white spots.

Protein deficiency:

You need to be aware that nails are mostly composed of keratin, a type of protein. When your diet lacks protein, it will affect your nail strength and appearance. Very rarely, it may cause discoloration, including white marks.

Vitamin deficiency:
Biotin (vitamin B7) helps with nail growth and strength; insufficient biotin will make your nails brittle.
Vitamin B12 and insufficient folate can cause nail discoloration or dark lines.
Vitamin D, crucial for calcium absorption, also supports nail health indirectly. f

What do calcium-deficient nails look like?

In case you have a calcium deficiency, your nails will often look brittle, dry, and prone to breaking or splitting easily. Those people will have a dull, weak texture and can show signs of ridges or peeling layers. Also, a few people will experience white spots or discoloration, although these can be caused by other factors such as zinc deficiency or trauma.

Calcium plays a vital role in maintaining strong and healthy nails, so when you have a calcium deficiency, you will experience visible changes in your nails over time. In case you are noticing chronic nail changes along with other symptoms such as muscle cramps or weak bones, consider undergoing checkups from the best skin doctor in Coimbatore for proper evaluation.

How to treat those white spots on nails?

Without any proper reason, like undergoing injury, if these white spots on your nails persist, healthcare providers will take a few tests for precise diagnosis, like:

Biopsy: In this process, a tiny sample of your cells will be collected. Further, those cells will go to the lab for testing, and researchers will examine them under a microscope.
Blood test: In the blood test, doctors will employ a thin gauge, and they will needle it to withdraw a tiny amount of blood from a vein in your arm. Further, those blood samples will be sent to the lab for testing, and researchers will look for the presence of any systemic diseases.
Potassium hydroxide preparation or fungal culture: The Doctor will cut off the affected parts of the nails and send those pieces of nail to the lab to look for the presence of fungi.

In case the presence of white spots on nails is due to fungus, doctors will recommend:

Oral antifungal medication: Doctors will prescribe liquid medicines or tablets that you can swallow with water.
Topical antifungal medication: Typically, those topical medications will come in the form of creams or gels. You can rub them directly on your nails.

You need to be aware that nail fungus is difficult to treat, so you are advised to finish the full course of medication. If you stop the medication in the middle of the treatment, it will come back, and it will become very difficult to treat.

Are there any ways to prevent these white spots on nails?

Consider doing the following things to prevent white spots from growing on your nails:

Always stay vigilant to protect your nails. Also, consider wearing protective gloves when engaging in activities that damage your nails, like playing any sport, working

outside, or using tools like a hammer. Wear comfortable and protective shoes, and be careful when putting heavy weights near your feet.
Moisturize your nails.
Maintain your nails short by trimming them.
Avoid using irritating chemicals or products.

Should I be worried about these white spots?

You don’t need to worry about those white spots if they appear occasionally, because they might appear due to a minor injury or nail polish chemicals. Also, if:

They arise frequently or in large numbers.
Comes with brittle, ridged, or discolored nails.
Experiencing other signs such as fatigue, hair loss, or poor immunity.

All these highlights that you need medical help.

When should I reach out to a doctor?

Consider visiting the best dermatologist in Coimbatore when:

When developing new signs on or around your nails, even nail cracks or breaks, changes in color, or dents or ridges.
When having white spots on your nails and also experiencing serious signs like weakness, feeling tired all the time that is fatigue, blurred vision, confusion, and shortness of breath.
Even when your signs are not improving with treatment.

Final takeaway:

In conclusion, we can say that typically white spots on your nails arise post-injury to your nails, such as bumping them against a hard surface, or hitting them by accident with a tool, or biting them. It will always keep growing till the tip of your nails, that is, until you chop your nails. It may be a rare one, but those white spots on your nails at times remain as a sign of a more serious condition. In case white spots appear on your nails along with other symptoms, consider reaching out to the doctor.