White spots on the nails of the fingers: how to treat? Causes of white spots on fingernails What do white spots on fingernails mean?
Update: October 2018
White spots on the nails of the hands, referred to in medicine as leukonychia, refer to pathological changes in the nail plate.
What does white spots on nails mean? A characteristic feature of leukonychia is white spots on the nail plate in the form of dots, stripes or large areas of various shapes, sizes and localizations.
Leukonychia is widespread, but not many people take the disease seriously, considering the problem purely cosmetic. Somatic and infectious diseases can be behind the white spots on the fingernails, so the symptom should not be ignored.
Why white spots appeared on the nails - this question is more often asked by women who are more prone to such a symptom. White spots on the nail plate in a child with a probability of 80% indicate hypovitaminosis, the remaining 20% are occupied by “rodents” of nails.
Causes of white spots on nails
The main cause of white spots is a violation of the process of keratinization of the nail (keratization). What does this mean: microscopic layers of air form between the layers of the nail plate, which replaces the fat and water that are present there in the normal state. The air gaps look like white spots, there is no white pigment in the nail.
Violation of keratization occurs due to causes of exogenous and endogenous nature:
External causes |
Internal causes |
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If white spots are found under the nails, i.e. on the regrown part, in most cases this is the result of damage or a consequence of the brittleness of the nail.
Leukonychia classification
By prevalence leukonychia is classified:
According to the shape of the spots, they distinguish:
Characteristics of leukonychia depending on the causes that caused it
- Injuries of the nail - point spots, less often strip-like, with a chaotic arrangement. The nail is affected limitedly
- Depression, nervous exhaustion- a large white spot in the center of the nail. Disappears as it grows back
- Nutritional factors(starvation, diet, unbalanced diet) - paired white stripes with a transverse arrangement
- Seasonal hypovitaminosis(spring) - single white spots
- Prolonged hypovitaminosis- multiple white spots, accompanying fatigue, dry skin, hyperkeratosis
- CRF - extensive white spots on the lower part of the nail plate, the top has a healthy color
- CCC diseases - white spots on the nail plate, which has a bluish tint
- Diseases of the digestive system- total damage to the nails, often on the legs
- Fungus - white spots on a limited area of \u200b\u200bthe nail, yellowing and softening of the plate, thickening, delamination, an unpleasant odor from the affected nail. When the process spreads, several nails are affected.
Diagnosis of leukonychia
In China, examining the condition of the nails is a mandatory element of a doctor's examination, such as measuring blood pressure in our country, since doctors connect the energy channels of the fingers with internal organs. A healthy person has nails of the correct form, even, smooth, matte or slightly shiny nail plates.
A change in the normal state of the nails in the absence of exogenous causes suggests an internal pathology, the prescription of which is no more than six months - it is during this period that the nail completely grows.
Diagnosis of leukonychia is carried out by a dermatologist, for this it is usually carried out:
- spectral analysis for trace elements
- scraping for mushrooms
If necessary, he will refer to other narrow specialists (cardiologist, neuropathologist, etc.). White spots (leukonychia) are differentiated from:
- May's strips - poisoning with thallium or arsenic (stripes of white and blue color 5 mm, located across)
- Onychomycosis - which is characterized by deformation, "bird's nail", a change in its color, thickening of the plate,.
Treatment of leukonychia - how to get rid of white spots
The treatment of leukonychia is based on the elimination or therapy of the cause that caused the symptom. The entire therapeutic complex can be divided into general measures recommended for leukonychia of any etiology, internal treatment and external methods.
General events
- elimination of stressful situations;
- establishing a diet with enrichment of the diet with protein, vitamins and minerals. Fermented milk products, green vegetables and fruits are useful;
- normalization of the regime of work and rest;
- taking balanced vitamin and mineral complexes.
internal treatment
If the cause of leukonychia is a somatic pathology, treatment of the underlying disease is indispensable. In this case, white spots on the nails are a small fraction of what the disease can lead to. You can not neglect the appointments of doctors!
If a fungal infection is detected, systemic or local (more often) antifungal treatment is prescribed for a long period of time with mandatory laboratory control.
Outdoor methods
Applicable for exogenous leukonychia. First of all, the root cause of white spots is eliminated.
- To eliminate a cosmetic defect, you can contact a beauty salon. Local treatment with professional products, hand massage, which improves blood circulation, may be offered.
- For the duration of treatment, manicure and decorative coatings should be abandoned, and even more so, nails should not be extended.
- Baths with sea salt. Add 1 tsp to 1 liter of hot water. sea salt. Take a bath for 10-15 minutes.
- Baths with decoction of oak bark and chamomile(1 tablespoon of raw materials per 1 liter of water). Performs a healing and antiseptic function, is indicated for microdamages. Take a warm bath for 10-15 minutes.
- Oil solution of vitamins A and E(Aevit). A capsule with vitamins is pierced and the oil is rubbed into the nail plate. Repeat every day.
- Fish fat . Rubbed into the affected nail, you can repeat daily.
- Olive oil and lemon juice. Rub the heated mixture and juice (1:1) into the nail plate, repeat 2-3 times a week.
- Homemade "lacquer" from a mixture of iodine tincture, olive oil and Aevit: for 60 ml of oil take 5 drops of iodine tincture and 5 capsules of Aevit. Everything is stirred and applied with a brush on the nails before going to bed every day.
Prevention of leukonychia
Prevention of leukonychia of endogenous origin without fail includes preventive examinations and timely access to doctors if there are health complaints.
Prevention of fungal leukonychia consists in strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, especially when visiting baths, saunas, swimming pools, using personal towels, regular hand washing, and if washing is not possible, hand treatment with liquid antiseptics or antiseptic wipes.
Prevention of leukonychia of exogenous origin consists in elementary measures that will allow your nails to maintain a healthy appearance:
- Proper manicure and pedicure without damaging the nail plates.
- Use of high-quality varnishes and nail polish removers.
- Use of rubber gloves when working with chemicals.
- Wearing appropriate footwear.
- Fighting the habit of nail biting - this not only disfigures the nail, but is also a risk factor for the development of intestinal infections and helminthic infestations.
(leukonychia) - a change in the nail plate, characterized by the appearance of dotted, striped or extensive areas of white. White spots on the nails can be not just a harmless cosmetic defect, but indicate serious health problems. To find out the causes of white spots on the nails, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis, including a consultation with a dermatologist, a study of the spectral analysis of nails for microelements, scrapings from the nail plates for pathogenic fungi. In order to eliminate white spots on the nails, it is necessary to influence the cause of their appearance: avoid injury to the nail plate, take a course of vitamin therapy, normalize nutrition, etc.
General information
The nails are dense horny plates covering the back surfaces of the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes. The main function of the nails is to protect the soft tissues of the distal parts of the fingers from mechanical damage. The hardness of the nail plate is provided by keratin (mainly cysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid), and the layers of water and fat give elasticity and shine. In addition to sulfur, the nail plates also contain other trace elements - calcium, phosphorus, chromium, selenium, zinc, etc., the presence of which makes the nails healthy.
The appearance of nails (as well as hair and skin) is not only an indicator of well-groomed, but also a sensitive indicator of the state of general health. White spots on the nails, deformation of the nail plates, dyschromia, brittle or exfoliating nails can tell an experienced diagnostician a lot about the health of the patient in front of him. The condition of the nails reflects the changes that have taken place in the body over the past six months - this is the period required for the complete renewal of the nail plate. Knowing the possible causes of the appearance of white spots on the nails, it is possible to carry out a kind of preliminary diagnosis of various disorders in the body.
Causes of white spots on nails
Many popular superstitions and signs are associated with white spots on the nails, which have nothing to do with the true reasons for their appearance. The formation of white pigmentation is based on a violation of the process of keratinization of the nail plate, as a result of which microscopic air bubbles form between the layers of the nail. Various endo- and exogenous factors can lead to disruption of the normal keratinization of the nail plate, as a result of which specks or stripes appear, different in shape, size and location.
The most common exogenous cause of white spots on the nails is trauma to the nail plate. In women, in most cases, mechanical damage to the nail occurs with careless removal of the cuticle, unprofessional manicure, pedicure or nail extension. In addition, the coating of nails with low-quality decorative varnish, constant contact of hands with household and industrial chemicals (detergents and cleaners, acetone, paints, solvents, fertilizers, etc.), the habit of biting nails, have an adverse effect on the condition of the nail plate. The appearance of white spots on the toenails is promoted by wearing shoes that are too tight.
Very often, white spots on the nails appear in people who abuse strict diets, suffer from anorexia, lack microelements (calcium, zinc, iron) and vitamins (A, E, C). Leukonychia may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (dysbacteriosis, enteritis, etc.), anemia, heart failure, chronic renal failure, stress, prolonged depression.
Characteristics of white spots on the nails
Depending on the prevalence of the lesion in dermatology, limited and total leukonychia are distinguished. In the first case, there is a partial violation of the keratinization of the nail plate, 1-2 nails are affected; in the second case, there is a complete lesion of one or all nails. According to the shape of white spots, dot and strip-like leukonychia are distinguished. White dots on the nails can be small and multiple or large and solitary; white stripes - horizontal or vertical.
By the appearance and location of white spots on the nails, one can first judge one or another genesis of leukonychia. So, with the traumatic nature of leukonychia, white spots on the nails are dotted, less often - striped, chaotic; in these cases, a total nail lesion never develops. After strong nervous shocks, large single white spots usually appear in the center of the nail plate, which disappear as the nail grows. With leukonychia caused by alimentary factors (improper and unbalanced nutrition, lack of proteins), the defect looks like paired white stripes located across the nail plate.
Numerous dotted white spots on the nails speak of a deficiency of trace elements and vitamins. As a rule, other accompanying symptoms also indicate hypovitaminosis: dry skin, hyperkeratosis, cheilitis, fatigue, etc. Single white spots on the nails appear in the spring in most people due to seasonal hypovitaminosis. Particularly pronounced leukonychia is usually observed in adolescents and pregnant women, whose body has an increased need for vitamins and minerals.
In persons suffering from CRF, extensive white spots are located in the lower part of the nail; while the upper part of the nail plate has a healthy pinkish color. With diseases of the cardiovascular system, white spots appear on the nail plate, which acquires a bluish tint. Total leukonychia is observed in diseases of the digestive system, liver; while white spots can appear not only on the nails of the hands, but also on the legs.
Diagnosis of the causes of white spots on the nails
Assessment of health according to the condition of the nail plates is a traditional diagnostic method in Chinese traditional medicine. Oriental medicine experts believe that the energy channels that open on the fingers are associated with certain internal organs. That is why the changes that occur in the body, as in a mirror, are reflected on the surface of our nails. A sign of physical and spiritual health are smooth, even nail plates that have a matte or slightly shiny surface, pink color and regular shape. When white spots appear on the nails at the first stage, it is advisable to contact a dermatologist, who, if necessary, will recommend consultations with other specialists - a gastroenterologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, etc. To determine the state of mineral metabolism, it is advisable to conduct a spectral analysis of nails for microelements.
Leukonychia must be differentiated from May's strips that occur with arsenic or thallium poisoning. These strips are white-blue in color, transverse and 5 mm wide. You should also exclude onychomycosis, which, in addition to white spots on the nails, is characterized by thickening and discoloration of the nail plate, various deformations (ingrown nail, "bird's" nail), crumbling and delamination of the nail. Diagnosis of fungal infection of the nails is carried out by a mycologist based on the results of scraping for pathogenic fungi from the nail plates.
Treatment of white spots on the nails
Elimination of white spots on the nails can only be effective if the cause of their appearance is determined. As general measures, it is recommended to avoid nervous shocks, normalize the regime of work and rest, enrich the diet with vegetables, fruits, vegetable and animal proteins. With the problem of white spots on the nails, it will be useful to take vitamins, micro- and macroelements, which will eliminate the deficiency of missing substances in the body.
With leukonychia that is not associated with general diseases, you can go to a beauty salon for local nail treatment with professional care products, therapeutic hand and foot baths, hand and foot massage. In addition to salon treatment at home, you can perform baths with sea salt; rub into the nails a mixture of heated olive oil with lemon juice, an oil solution of vitamin A, fish oil, nourishing creams. In case of fungal infection, course drug treatment and local nail treatment are prescribed and carried out by a mycologist.
Prevention of the appearance of white spots on the nails
By themselves, past spots on the nails do not pose a threat to health. However, their appearance in some cases may indicate a serious problem in the body, so this symptom should not be ignored. It is wrong to “mask” white spots on the nails with a layer of decorative varnish. On the contrary, when they appear, you should temporarily abandon the manicure treatment of nails and undergo a diagnosis from a specialist.
When working with chemicals, hands must be protected with gloves. When it comes to salon care for hands and feet, it is better to give preference to establishments with a good reputation, sparing procedures and well-known cosmetic brands. Good nutrition, taking vitamins will help to avoid the appearance of white spots on the nails. With total leukonychia, first of all, it is necessary to exclude diseases of the internal organs.
Our body is always alerting us to problems that have arisen in it. No wonder an experienced specialist begins treatment with a general examination of the patient. In this way, he can identify most of the developed diseases, so if you have white spots on your fingernails, you should seriously think about your health.
Character traits
In medicine, this pathology is called leukonychia and is characterized as the appearance of white spots on the nail plate in the form of dashes, dots or stripes. Their size, localization and shape can be different and often quite extensive. Such white drawings on the nail are a very common disease, which can be either an exclusively cosmetic problem or one of the forms of an infectious or somatic pathology. Therefore, such a symptom should not be left unattended in any case.
What causes white spots on nails?
Pigmentation may appear as a group of spots or small single inclusions. If, as the nail grows, it disappears and rarely makes itself felt, then your body is quite successfully coping with the problems that have arisen in it. If white spots on the fingernails appear too often or do not go away at all, the reason may be different. This situation requires, first of all, to identify the source of their occurrence, it can be both external and internal.
External causes
Violation of the keratinization process leads to the formation of microscopic air bubbles between the layers of the plate. It is they who look like white spots on the fingernails. In the normal state, all voids in the layers should be filled with fat and water. Why do they appear?
- Frequent contact with household chemicals - hand washing with powder, cleaning - a detergent with strong abrasives has a negative effect on the skin of the hands and nails as well.
- Impacts, injuries - a pinched or bruised finger often leads to deformation of the plate and disturbances in its functioning.
- Manicure - if it is done inaccurately and incorrectly, with strong pressure on the nail, it leads to the appearance of air gaps, this happens both when sticking and building up artificial tips, and in the usual careless manicure.
- The use of acetone (instead of a special liquid) and other cheap solvents is very harmful to the nails, as well as painting them with low-quality varnishes.
- And finally, a bad habit - nail biting, which is present in many children and even adults.
If all these external factors are excluded, and white spots on the fingernails still appear, the problem should be dealt with more thoroughly.
Internal causes
Violation of keratization of an endogenous nature can be a signal of both serious disturbances in the functioning of the body, and completely solvable ones.
- Malnutrition - this includes rigid diets that girls so often abuse to look better, and thereby achieve the opposite result.
- Deficiency in the body of the elements it needs, most often calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins (C and A). Restriction in the consumption of microelements and nutrients always affects the state of health negatively.
- Fungus - in each person it manifests itself in different ways, but it always leads to deformation of the nail, a change in its color and structure.
- Chronic diseases - if white spots appear on the fingernails, the cause may lie in the presence of some kind of pathology. The only option in this case is to go to the doctor, who will advise you to take general tests and, if necessary, refer you to a narrower specialist for treatment. The source of stains can be malfunctions of the digestive system, the presence of cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure or problems with the thyroid gland.
- Stress - during experiences and unrest, blood circulation is disturbed, which leads to a general deterioration in the work of metabolic processes. With constant neurosis, the nails become thinner, brittle and lose their healthy shine, the same thing happens with our hair.
Treatment
Having figured out what a white spot can form on the nail of the thumb or in other parts of the nail plates, let's do therapy. In this case, it includes the elimination of the causes, as well as a number of complex measures.
General procedures
To begin with, it is worth isolating yourself from stress and giving the body the opportunity to relax, and for this:
Establish the correct mode of work, rest and, of course, sleep, it is he who helps the body recover, make the immune system stronger;
Start taking balanced complexes of vitamins and minerals, today they are offered in a pharmacy in a variety of options;
Adjust the diet, it should include a mandatory full breakfast, a healthy lunch and dinner, add vegetables, fruits, herbs, dairy products to the diet;
Remove from your life all the situations that cause stress and nervousness.
internal therapy
If large white spots on the nails appeared due to somatic pathology, one cannot do without a medical type of treatment. In this case, this is only a small manifestation of what the development of the disease can lead to, the first important signal of the body that it needs your help.
The first thing to do in this situation is to go to the doctor;
When a fungal infection is detected, local therapy is most often prescribed with mandatory testing in the laboratory before and after the completion of treatment;
In case of detection of diseases of a chronic nature, the choice of medications and methods for eliminating the problem remains solely with the attending physician.
External treatment
If, after passing all the necessary tests, it turned out that white spots on the nails of the middle finger of the hand were formed due to exogenous reasons, you can proceed to eliminate them yourself.
- You can quickly get rid of cosmetic defects in a beauty salon, where specialists will select a number of professional products with targeted action, give you a hand massage that improves blood circulation, and apply vitamin and mineral masks that perfectly nourish the skin and nail plate with the microelements it needs.
- For the duration of treatment, it is better to abandon nail extensions, any kind of decorative coating and manicure.
- Injuries of mechanical origin are not subject to therapy, here you have to wait until a new healthy nail grows, and you can help this process with the help of special healing creams, tea tree oil and castor oil.
home methods
Having found out what causes white spots on the nails, you can begin to treat them with the most proven and popular methods for decades:
Sea salt - baths are made on its basis, the concentration should be 1 tsp. salt / liter of warm water, hold hands in such a bath for 10-15 minutes and rinse;
Oak decoction - baths from such a decoction have an antiseptic and healing effect, especially if you add chamomile here, a dose of dry grass is 1 tablespoon / liter of water, such a solution will help to quickly restore the horny plate and heal microcracks;
Fish oil - capsules can be found at any pharmacy (Aevit helps well for the same purposes), pierced with a needle and rubbed into the nails daily;
Lemon juice and oil (preferably olive oil) - the mixture in a ratio of 1: 1 is heated and rubbed into the nail plates with a cotton pad, two to three procedures per week are enough;
Homemade varnish is an excellent tool for daily care of weakened nails, mix Aevit (5 capsules), iodine (5 drops), olive oil (50 ml), pour into a convenient container, store in a cool place, tightly closed with a lid.
Popular beliefs
If you have white spots on your fingernails, the signs say that this is a good sign. It is difficult not to touch upon such an aspect. Beliefs have been formed by our people for more than one decade, and oddly enough, they still arouse interest among people today. In these superstitions, the number of spots, their shape and location are important.
If white spots appeared on the nails of the middle finger, this is nothing but a new thing, they thought in the old days. It could be a purchase for the home or just a beautiful thing. The ability to immediately cut off such a white spot was considered a special success, this promised a very large profit and prosperity in the house.
Now, women associate the appearance of such pigmentation with shopping, if it was formed immediately before going to the store, it means that the purchase will be profitable, and the thing will last for a long time. The presence of spots in a sick person was considered a particularly good omen, this promised him a quick recovery. We can say that all the beliefs invented by the people on this occasion signify something good and prosperous. So, for example, white spots on the nails of the ring fingers portend love and family happiness in the future. Small spots on the middle and index fingers indicate that some good news awaits a person, and the appearance of stripes on the thumbs promises an early promotion, an increase in salary and, in general, success in all endeavors.
Preventive measures
Good signs, of course, are nice, but beautiful well-groomed nails without traces of pigmentation look better, and for this you need to follow a number of simple recommendations:
In order not to form white spots on the fingernails, you should try to exclude the possibility of household injuries, and for this, do the work only with gloves, be careful and attentive in your actions;
Injury to the nail plate can have serious consequences, therefore, manicure masters need to be chosen by experienced ones, and when doing it yourself, perform all manipulations carefully;
Observe the rules of individual hygiene, in public places (bathhouse, gym, swimming pools) use only personal shoes and towels;
Eat right and follow antifungal measures (treatment of hands and feet with an antiseptic);
Be sure to carry out a medical examination, at least once a year, this will help identify the problem in the early stages of its development and quickly get rid of it.
Due to the constant activity of a person, his nails can be subject to various diseases. Repeatedly throughout their lives, they have given multiple causes for concern, changing color, smoothness and shape. The most common indicator for anxiety is the fingers. You can often hear that such a manifestation is a sign of malaise or weakened immunity. But what do these spots really show? First of all, you need to know that absolutely healthy nails will never differ in a changed shape or color.
Description
White stains on the nails are considered a pathological condition that is formed due to nail keratinization, when the plate becomes keratinized with the appearance of small bubbles between its layers. In medicine, this damage is called "leukonychia". It can be found in any person, regardless of gender and age.
The main factor in the occurrence of white spots can be both endogenous and exogenous phenomena. There are people who do not consider such a disease a problem, but on the contrary, they are sure that light stains on the nails will bring happiness, good luck and good events. Modern medicine has a completely different opinion, because the human body is a single system, and the formation of even minor disorders can indicate probable, and sometimes complex failures. And this is evidenced by white spots on the nails of the fingers. The photo is shown below.
Stages of leukonychia
There are some stages of such a disease.
- With a slight form of the disease, you can observe several almost imperceptible light spots on 1-3 nails.
- A sign of pinpoint leukonychia is the appearance of a mass of small white dots or one large one.
- The strip-like nature of the disease speaks for itself. The plate of the nail is dotted with a considerable number of varying degrees of density of light lines. Depending on their location (vertical or horizontal), doctors can determine the possible ailment of which organ they show.
- The general form of leukonychia is the most severe. In this situation, the entire nail plate is affected, and a specialist should be urgently contacted.
White spots on the nails of the fingers: the cause
Leukonychia in the form of large and small dot stains indicates a disorder in the process of keratinization of the nail strip. They get a light shade as a result of the formation of air layers in the tissues of the plate. The main sources of such spots:
- systematic use of household chemicals;
- damage during cuticle removal;
- hitting a nail or pinching a finger;
- repeated gluing or their extension.
If the anomaly appeared due to external causes, it will pass on its own in a couple of weeks. If not, then it is necessary to look for other factors that cause white spots to form on the nails of the hands, namely:
- lack of vitamins, iron and zinc in the body;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- fungal infections;
- low hemoglobin;
- heart or kidney failure;
- anemia;
- metabolic disorders;
- colitis;
- all kinds of diets;
- anorexia;
- stress;
- hepatitis;
- enteritis;
- cirrhosis of the liver.
White spots on fingernails in children
Quite often, this manifestation occurs in babies. Most parents do not pay any attention to this, but in vain, since various diseases can be the causes of such points on the nails. For many children, this pathology goes away quickly, and for some, on the contrary, it lasts for a long period of time. In addition to the factors that were mentioned above, the appearance of light spots on the nails of a child can speak of completely different ailments. For example, about the existence of hormonal dysfunction or worms. It happens that the problem arises due to:
- complications with the stomach, heart;
- high blood sugar;
- protein deficiency;
- disorders of carbohydrate metabolism;
- weakness of the lungs;
- nervous disorders.
As you can see, the list of reasons is rather big. Therefore, if white spots were found on the fingernails of the baby, it is imperative to contact a specialist. You will need to conduct a general examination and review the child's diet.
Diagnosis
If there are only changes on the plates, but there is no external factor, then it is quite possible that some internal cause is the culprit for the appearance of the symptom. Usually the disease is determined by a dermatologist. If necessary, you can visit an endocrinologist, a cardiologist and a neuropathologist.
How to avoid leukonychia
From the foregoing, it is now clear that the disease that destroys the nails is, for the most part, considered a sign of internal disorders in the human body. And in order not to face such a problem and, even worse, not to start an existing ailment, you can prevent such unpleasant phenomena as white spots on the fingernails.
- Start eating right. Change your diet as much as possible. The menu must contain fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, fish and meat. In particular, you need to pay attention to products that increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, such as apples, pomegranates, dried apricots, liver and buckwheat. These foods can help prevent anemia.
- You should forget about semi-finished products, canned food and sweets. In spring and winter, to replenish the energy reserves of the body, you can take multivitamins. Today, pharmacies offer a wide range of different supplements.
- You can also start using vitaminized healing varnishes so that white spots on the fingernails disappear, the cause of which may be the use of ordinary varnishes or household chemicals.
- If, nevertheless, these light stains are found on the nail plates, it is recommended to visit a competent doctor as soon as possible so as not to start the emerging disease. He will already accurately determine the state of the disturbing organ.
How to get rid
If the nails were affected by chemicals, it is recommended to keep your fingers in slightly warm water with the addition of iodine and sea salt for 15-20 minutes. Such an event can "pull out" harmful substances that poison the nail plate. In case of direct contact with household chemicals, use
Excellent results can be achieved as a result of a course of oil treatment if there is a white spot on the thumbnail, for example. Experts advise rubbing a mixture of lemon juice and warm olive oil into the nail plate (mix 100 ml of oil with 5 drops of juice). The following solution will also nourish the nails wonderfully: 60 ml of almond oil (olive oil can be used), 3 drops of iodine, and 5 drops of vitamin A. Rub this “potion” before going to bed.
If light stains on the nails are the result of damage or improper use of a manicure tool, no special treatment is required. You just need to apply procedures that improve the condition of the nails. For example, you can make a soothing bath for your hands: 1 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers should be poured with 200 g of beer heated to 70-80 degrees. Then insist the mixture for a couple of 15 minutes, filter through a strainer, cool to the optimum temperature. And then you can already lower your fingers into the solution for about 20-25 minutes. At the end of the procedure, it will be useful to lubricate the nail plates with fish oil.
Folk methods of treatment
If there are white spots on the fingernails, how to treat them? It is also possible in other ways:
- it is required to mix in equal parts a decoction of oak bark, chamomile and water, hold your fingers in this warm bath and, after the event, grease them with apricot or olive oil;
- dissolve in a glass of warm liquid 1 tbsp. l. sea salt, add 1 tsp. lemon juice and lower the nails there for 20 minutes, then wash off the salty water from the hands and grease them with a nourishing cream or oils;
- you can chop 5-7 cloves of garlic, steam your fingers, smear the bases of the nails with this gruel, keep this mixture on the nail plates for about 30 minutes so that the white spots on the nails of the middle finger (for example) completely disappear;
- it is also recommended to brew in 1 glass of boiling water 2 tbsp. l. green tea, then dip all fingers in turn into a warm liquid - from the little finger to the big one (the duration of such a procedure is 5-7 minutes);
- there is nothing more useful than fish oil, which can cure leukonychia: you should rub it into the tips of all fingers and rinse with warm water after 5 minutes;
- restorative massage also gives its results: you need to lubricate your fingertips with any oil (vegetable) and gently massage the nail plates for 2-3 minutes.
If all of the above methods did not help to remove white spots on the fingernails, then you should make an appointment with a specialist.
- It is necessary to take care of your nervous system - no depression and stress!
- Drink vitamins, after consulting with your doctor.
- It is required to protect your hands from damage and be careful with manicure.
- Pay more attention to diet and sleep.
- Use household chemicals with gloves.
- If there is a fungus, be sure to listen to the advice of a specialist. The therapy is long - up to 6 months, and it cannot be interrupted in any way.
From this article, now everyone has learned what white spots on the fingernails are. Treatment for a disease such as leukonychia exists, and it is not very complicated.
The appearance of nails can say a lot not only about the degree of accuracy and grooming of a person, but also about the state of health of his internal organs. Smooth, pink nail plates without flaws speak of good health and well-being. But white spots on the fingernails and white longitudinal or transverse lines can signal the presence of an infection or some kind of disease in the body.
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Form and classification
White stripes and spots on the nails, having a wide variety of sizes and shapes, are a pathology of the nail plates, called leukonychia. They occur if during the death and keratinization of epidermal cells (keratinization) and keratinization of the nail plate in these processes, for some reason, deviations from the norm occur. Tiny air bubbles form between the nail layers.
Leukonychia is classified into 4 types:
- limited, when the nails are only partially affected (photo);
- punctate, in which white dots form on the surface of the nail plate: many small spots or one large spot;
- strip-like - a type of pathology in which longitudinal or transverse white lines appear on the nail plate;
- total - means a comprehensive lesion of the nails with many spots.
By themselves, spots and lines are not harmful to the human body and go away on their own, without any treatment. It may be necessary to treat those diseases that caused their occurrence.
External factors in the formation of leukonychia
Why do white spots appear on nails? There are many external reasons due to which lines or spots suddenly appear on the nail plates of the toes and hands:
- Microtrauma of the nail plate. These can be blows, pinching, which, often, a person does not even notice or quickly forgets. A blow or pinching has an impact on the process of formation and growth of the nail, and therefore white stripes or spots are formed. The nail plate grows at about 4-5 mm per month, so by the time the pathology is discovered, it is already difficult to remember why and when the injury occurred. Considering that the nail plates grow constantly on the toes and hands, sooner or later the lines and specks will approach the edge of the nail plate, and they can simply be cut off.
- Improper care of fingernails and toenails. Leukonychia can be caused by: painting nails with low-quality varnishes, removing varnish from the surface of the nail plate by women not with nail polish remover, but with a poisonous solvent - acetone. Spots and stripes also appear after the nail extension procedure, in which one’s own nail plate continues to grow unevenly under the artificial one, as well as the bad habit of biting nails, poor cuticle trimming, and unprofessional manicure. Does not improve the appearance of fingers and contact with various chemicals without the use of rubber gloves.
Tip: To prevent stripes or spots from forming on the toenail plates, discard shoes that are too narrow with a narrowed toe.
Internal factors for the formation of leukonychia
In addition to external, there are also internal causes of white spots on the nails. They may be the result of an infection or some disease.
If the formation of lines and spots is accompanied by a high temperature, then we can talk about a disease such as malaria. When the body is fighting a disease, it is more important for it to save life than to grow beautiful nails. It sends all the necessary energy to the vital organs. And white lines or specks show that the nutrition of the nail plates has been temporarily stopped.
The appearance of small dots and spots in pregnant women or children means a severe deficiency in the body of vitamins. To eliminate this cause, a complete balanced diet and the intake of vitamin preparations are recommended.
If whitish spots appear on the nail plate in a certain place, and over time the plate softens, exfoliates and acquires a yellow color and an unpleasant odor, such symptoms indicate the presence of a fungal infection. Gradually, it leads to thickening and deformation of the nail plate, onychocryptosis (ingrown nail). In this case, it is necessary to take antifungal agents, lubricate the affected areas with tea tree oil. The treatment is long, after which it will be necessary to undergo a second medical examination.
Why do white spots on nails have different shapes, colors and sizes? Why are they located in different parts of the nail plate? It depends on the existing disease:
- large bright spots in the very center indicate the presence of depression, nervous strain, stress;
- if the upper part is not touched by changes, and there is light spotting in the lower part, then there is a high probability of kidney failure (photo);
- shapeless changes, in which the nail holes of the hands acquire a bluish tint, indicate problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels.
Also, the presence of spots and stripes can be a sign of anorexia, dysbacteriosis, anemia, hepatitis, poisoning, etc.
Popular beliefs about leukonychia
According to popular belief, the detection of spots and stripes on the nail plates promises success in business and on the personal front, especially if they are located on the nail plates of one hand. If on different - on the contrary, failure and trouble.
Treatment
Having determined why spots, dots and stripes formed on the nail plates, it will be necessary to treat those internal diseases that provoked their formation. If there are external factors of leukonychia, try to exclude them: take proper care of your nails, use high-quality varnishes and other cosmetic products, use gloves when in contact with chemicals, wear comfortable shoes, stop biting your nails, etc.
By correctly identifying the factors that contribute to the formation of white lines and spots on the nails, you can change your lifestyle for the better and detect diseases that have appeared in the body in time.