What is white spot on fingernails?

This is an automatically translated article.


Nails with white dots or white spots is a common condition in everyone but many times we don't care. In most cases, white-spotted nails are nothing to worry about, but sometimes accompanied by other symptoms that could indicate a medical condition. So what is white spot on nails?
Nails are made up of keratin, which is a component of proteins that we can find in both hair and skin. Our nails grow very quickly and are one of the factors that reflect the health status of the body. A healthy body, nails are usually pink and shiny. White-spotted nails are also known as leukonychia (white nails). However, this is a fairly common problem and is not dangerous.

1. Types of Nails with White Spots Before finding out what causes white spots on nails, we need to know and distinguish the types of white spots on nails. It may be a complete or partial white spot.
Pure white spot is the whole nail is white, the problem is usually genetic. Meanwhile, white spot nail disease that we often see is a partial white spot with the following forms:
White streak pattern: These are small horizontal or vertical stripes on the nail. Egg-shaped white spots: These are tiny, egg-like spots that often appear on the whole nail. This form is common in young children, quite common. Vertical white spots: These are lines located along the direction of the nail, this form is very rare.

Móng tay có đốm trắng là vấn khá phổ biến và không nguy hại
Móng tay có đốm trắng là vấn khá phổ biến và không nguy hại

2. What is white spot on nails? Nails can reflect whether our body is getting enough nutrients, especially those that help keep skin, hair and nails strong such as protein, biotin, iron, omega-3. When you see a white dot on the nail plate on the horny layer, it may be a warning sign that the body is severely deficient in an essential amount of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, zinc, vitamin C.
In addition, the nodules. This whiteness is also commonly seen in people with liver disease. If the spots are both pink and white, it could be a sign of kidney disease, and if purple, it could be a sign of heart disease.
In people with lung disease, accompanied by white spots on the nails, the entire nail becomes thickened and turns yellow. It is caused by impaired lung function, which reduces oxygen levels in the blood and affects nail growth. As the nail continues to grow, the white spots get bigger and make the entire nail weak and easy to break.
Sometimes, white spots on the nails are not a sign of malnutrition or any disease but are caused by bumps, minor trauma, or nail clipping. In addition, bacterial and fungal infections can also cause white spots on the nails.

Khi lao động sử dụng đôi tay nhiều nên găng tay để bảo vệ tay để không bị móng tay có đốm trắng
Khi lao động sử dụng đôi tay nhiều nên găng tay để bảo vệ tay để không bị móng tay có đốm trắng

3. How to fix and prevent white-spotted nails? The cases of white spots in the nails due to trauma such as hand clamps, ... will go away on their own. If it is due to a lack of substances or a disease, it is best for the patient to see a doctor to find out the cause, from which there is an appropriate treatment. Here are some tips that you can take to avoid white spots on your nails:
Do not cut your nails too deep, especially the corners. You should wait for the nails to be as long as usual and then cut off the white dotted part of the nail. When working or working with a lot of hands, you should wear protective gear or gloves to protect your hands from being exposed to chemicals or fungal infections, and at the same time avoid being bumped and causing injury to your nails. Eat enough vitamins and minerals, especially foods rich in calcium, protein, magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin C to help strengthen nails in particular, overall health in general. You can find these nutrients in abundance in meat, dairy, eggs, whole grains, and fresh vegetables. When you have white spots on your nails, do not use nail polish to cover this condition because the chemicals in nail polishes can cause more serious damage to the nails. If you are worried, you should see your doctor for appropriate advice. Most cases of white spots on nails are caused by an injury to the nail from an impact or a lack of necessary nutrients by the body. You just need to pay attention to add the right foods, the white spots will gradually disappear when the nails are long and cut.
Follow Vinmec International General Hospital website to get more health, nutrition and beauty information to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones in your family.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Share
Patients Stories