White in fingernails which deficiency

Many healthy adults have these spots at some point in their lives, so developing them is likely not a sign of a serious medical condition. For some people, the white spots may appear as tiny dots speckled across the nail. For others, the white spots may be larger and stretch across the entire nail. The spots may affect one nail or several. The most common cause of leukonychia is injury to the nail bed. These injuries can occur if you pinch or strike your nail or finger.

Frequent manicures and pedicures or the use of gel or acrylic nails can also damage nail beds. Several other causes may be responsible for the unusual spots on the nails. White spots or dots on your nails are common. Several issues can cause them. Possible causes include:. An allergy to a nail polish, gloss, hardener, or nail polish remover may cause white spots on your nails.

The use of acrylic or gel nails can also badly damage your nails and may cause these white spots. A common nail fungus called white superficial onychomycosis can appear on the toenails. The first sign of the infection may be a few small white dots on the nails. The infection can grow and spread to the nail bed. Toenails may appear flaky and then become thick and brittle.

An injury at the base of your fingernail can cause white spots or dots on your nail as it grows. However, because of the time it takes for your fingernails to grow, you may not recall the injury. Frequent manicures may also cause damage that results in these white spots on your nails.

Pressure applied by the manicurist may damage the nail beds. You may notice white spots or dots along your nails if you are deficient in certain minerals or vitamins. The deficiencies most commonly linked to this issue are zinc deficiency and calcium deficiency.

While these causes are possible, they are very rare. Your doctor will likely explore a host of other conditions if you have persistent white spots on your nails before considering these more serious issues. Follow soumya for more. The white spots on your nails do not indicate calcium deficiency. Share Via. Shutterstock Dr DM Mahajan, senior consultant of dermatology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, says the most common reason for leukonychia the right term for these white spots is an old injury.

Applying nail paints could also cause the spots. Shutterstock But how did this myth come into existence? Food items rich in calcium. Shutterstock So, white spot or not, keep chugging your milk and gobbling down that matar-paneer to keep calcium deficiency away!

Get our Daily News Capsule Subscribe. Thank you for subscribing to our Daily News Capsule newsletter. Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin. Sign Up. Edit Profile. Perhaps you've heard that these white marks are a sign of a vitamin or mineral deficiency. But it turns out that most white spots on fingernails aren't related to nutrient consumption, per the National Health Service.

These marks are known as leukonychia, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And while they're usually harmless — often caused by everyday activities or minor injuries — there are a few things you should know about them. Leukonychia, the condition where white spots appear on your nails this can be your fingernails or toenails , is very common and generally not a reason for concern.

The term "total leukonychia" refers to the condition when a fingernail or toenail is entirely white, instead of the pinkish color that this part of the body tends to be, according to DermNet NZ , a resource supported by the New Zealand Dermatological Society. There are plenty of reasons a person may spot leukonychia on their nails. One of the most common reasons is trauma to the nail plate, which can occur from nail-biting, manicuring, pedicuring, hitting or banging the nails or wearing tight shoes, per DermNet NZ.

These white spots tend to go away over time as the affected nail grows — this tends to take anywhere from six to nine months. In some cases, the white spots on your nails could be a sign of an allergic reaction to a certain polish you've applied to your nails, according to RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital.

White spots on nails can sometimes be related to health issues like psoriasis or chronic kidney disease, per the Cleveland Clinic. Because white spots on the nails are rarely cause for concern and usually caused by minor physical trauma to the hands and nails, you don't need to be particularly worried about preventing them.

Still, if the marks are aesthetically displeasing to you, there are a few measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of their appearance. If you suspect your nail polish may be the culprit, stop using the polish for a few weeks to see if this reduces the appearance of white spots. Think about the times you're most physical with your hands.