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Leukonychia is a white discoloration of the nail that can be harmless or a sign of an underlying medical problem. It can be caused by hereditary factors, air bubbles, damage to the nail bed, or exposure to toxins. A doctor’s evaluation may be necessary to determine the cause and treatment. A well-balanced diet and painting nails can help resolve the spots.
Leukonychia is a white discoloration of the nail. It can cover the entire nail in total leukonychia, or it can appear as streaks or spots on the nail. There are a number of reasons people may develop leukonychia. Sometimes it is completely harmless, while in other cases it can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Sudden changes in nail color may be a reason for a doctor’s appointment or a telephone consultation with a doctor or nurse to determine whether or not an appointment is needed.
In many people, these white spots are perfectly harmless. Some appear to be hereditary in nature. Others are dealing with issues that occur during keratinization, the process of creating new nail material at the base of the nail in the area known as the matrix. Air bubbles can cause leukonychia, and damage to the nail bed can also lead to the development of white spots. Sometimes the spots don’t show up right away, in which case the signs may be surprising, but still not a cause for concern.
Sometimes leukonychia is a sign of a more serious problem such as a nutritional deficiency. Changes in nail color are also associated with health problems, particularly circulatory conditions such as heart failure, although usually the condition has already been diagnosed, so leukonychia is not a diagnostic sign. It can also be evidence of a bacterial, fungal or viral infection in the nail or exposure to toxins such as arsenic.
If someone in good health develops leukonychia and risk factors like recent trauma to the fingers, getting a manicure or going to the gym, where people can commonly get fungal infections, aren’t obvious, it could be a sign of a deficiency or another problem. doctor. A doctor can provide an evaluation to check for conditions that might cause leukonychia but would otherwise go unnoticed, and make treatment recommendations. For onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail, for example, antifungal drugs may be prescribed.
Leukonychia can be cosmetically undesirable. Painting your nails can hide white spots, and sometimes making dietary changes can help resolve the spots. A well-balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals can promote healthy nail growth, which can resolve blemishes as nails grow. Others choose to embrace the small dots as normal variations.
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