Have you ever been asked, “What are those white spots on your nails?” Well, it’s time to stop ignoring them. They could be a sign of something serious.
Do you want to know what white spots on nails mean? And how can you get rid of them? Let's find out.
What Causes White Spots on Nails?
White spots and lines on nails are a common occurrence that people often ignore. However, these spots or leukonychia can be indicative of underlying health conditions. Here’s a list of possible causes:
- Nail bed damage from an injury or biting the nails.
- Damage and dehydration from frequent gel manicures.
- Allergic reaction to manicure products.
- Nail fungus, which can lead to further discoloration, thickening, crumbling, and deformation.
- Health conditions such as zinc deficiency, anemia, heart disease, kidney failure, pneumonia, and liver disease.
- Psoriasis and eczema.
- Chemotherapy or heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or lead.
- Genetic conditions like Total Congenital Hereditary Leukonychia.
As you can see, white spots on nails may appear for many different reasons. That’s why it’s smart to show them to a doctor and see about treating the underlying cause.
How to Find out What Caused the White Spots on Your Nails
A dermatologist or family doctor may do one or more tests to determine what caused the white spots. They may ask about injuries, illness, or whether you get regular manicures.
Furthermore, they might take a nail clipping if they suspect a fungal infection. Or they might sample the skin to find the cause or take blood for analysis if they suspect heavy metal poisoning.
How to Get Rid of White Spots on Your Nails
There are several ways to get rid of white spots on nails. For one, you could simply wait for the nail to grow out. That will take about 6 months.
In the meantime, keep your nails trimmed and filed. Be careful if you try to buff off the white spots – most likely they are deep in the nail plate. If you try to remove them, you may thin the nail too much. Instead, if you can’t bear looking at them, cover them up with a non-toxic nail polish.
Moreover, it’s essential to avoid the cause and treat the condition if at all possible.
Eating a well-balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals, such as zinc and iron, can help promote healthy nail growth and prevent white spots from forming. Your doctor may recommend supplements like biotin to strengthen the nails.
If the spots come from a fungal infection, you can use topical treatments like antifungal nail polish or cream. This may mean applying the medication twice a day for 3 months or so.
We have affordable antifungal nail treatments in our store:
No Lift Nails Fung-off Antifungal
Are you looking for a natural treatment for nail fungus? Then look no further than this maximum strength formula with thymol. It’s a potent antimicrobial derived from thyme.
What’s more, it’s safe to use on natural nails or acrylics. It even conditions the skin and nails while it destroys the fungus.
Dr. G's Clear Nail
This effective antifungal treatment contains 1% Tolnaftate. It works on nail fungus as well as athlete’s foot and ringworm. Not only does it kill the fungus but it also alleviates burning, itching, and cracking.
There’s no need to take off your polish or wreck your manicure. Just wash, dry, and apply a thin coat twice a day.
Additionally, practicing good nail hygiene can help prevent white spots from forming in the first place. This includes keeping nails clean and dry, avoiding biting or picking at nails, and using clean and appropriate nail care tools. Wear gloves when using harsh chemicals or if you have to have your hands in water a lot.
Here’s a handy manicure kit with tools you can sanitize by soaking in alcohol for 10 minutes:
Manicure Travel Kit
This cute little kit has everything you need for keeping your nails in top condition. From clippers to cuticle pushers and a nail file plus so much more for all your manicure needs. Everyone in the family should have their own kit!
If it’s safe to do so, feel free to hide the white spots with a polish. While your nails heal, you may need to avoid nail tips, acrylics, press-ons, etc. But you can strengthen weak and brittle nails with a nail hardener like OPI’s Nail Envy.
Since the white spots could be caused by dehydration, it’s also smart to use cuticle oil morning and night. It will make it easier to keep your cuticles neat and help your nails grow out stronger and shinier.
24K Gold Nail & Cuticle Oil - Lavender
Although we have several different delicious cuticle oils, we’d like to recommend lavender or rosemary if you have damaged nails. Both are naturally antifungal – but they are not potent enough to solve the problem on their own. Instead, they help the antifungal treatment do its job better.
Moreover, this cuticle oil features hyaluronic acid, one of the world’s most potent moisturizers. And it has 24-karat gold to rejuvenate dry nails and skin.
Pro Tips for Healthy Nails
There are serious benefits to having healthy nails. They are attractive, easier to maintain, and simpler to prep for a new manicure.
If you’re dealing with nail psoriasis, we have tips for managing it successfully.
Or if your nails are just generally dry, flaky, brittle, or weak, you should try nail slugging. It’s a very easy yet very effective way to solve the problem.
Conclusion
Don’t ignore those white spots on your nails as they can be indicative of underlying health conditions or nail bed damage. It is important to address the underlying cause. Show them to your doctor and report any other additional symptoms.
Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of white spots on nails. Also, practicing good nail hygiene can also help prevent white spots from forming in the first place.
While you’re here, take advantage of our deals to stock up on your nail care needs. Remember, we offer free shipping on orders over $100.