You’ve probably seen them before: those white spots on your nails. Often they suddenly appear and you have no idea why – or how to get rid of them. These are the causes of the white spots on your nails!
White spots on your nails
You must have noticed that there are some white spots on your nails, these are called ‘leukonychia’. Sometimes they appear suddenly, out of the blue. Why? Often you have no clue. This can therefore have various causes! These are the most common causes:
- You bumped your nails or damaged
When you damage your nails, white spots can appear. Think about when you bumped your hand, or when you bit your nails, for example. These are harmless and will grow out on their own. - You are deficient in nutrients
Another reason you have white spots on your nails is that you are deficient in certain nutrients. If you don’t get enough zinc or calcium, you can suffer from this. - Fungal infections
The white spots can also be caused by a fungal infection. Other symptoms of this include thickening of the nail, discoloration, and separation of the nail and nail bed. - An allergic reaction
You may also have an allergic reaction to a certain product. Often this is due to certain chemicals contained in it. - Psoriasis or eczema
Psoriasis and eczema are skin conditions, but can also be visible in the nail. Nail psoriasis can have several symptoms: ridges, thickening, and discoloration of the nail.
Eczema can therefore also cause those white spots, but also discoloration, ridges and thickening of the nail. Do you suspect you have nail psoriasis or eczema? Then consult a dermatologist. - Side effects of medicines
Those white spots can also be a side effect of certain medications. Think of chemotherapy drugs, drugs to treat bacterial infections, arthritis drugs and diabetes drugs. - Medical conditions
In the worst cases, the white spots on your nail could be a sign of medical conditions. Both liver and kidney diseases and metal poisoning can cause this.
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What can you do about it?
What you can do about the white spots on your nails depends on the cause. If you have a spot because your nail is damaged, you will have to wait until your nail grows out. It could also be caused by using nail polish. In that case you can try to file them away, but be careful with this. Filing too much of your nail will make it brittle and sensitive, making your nail a lot weaker.
It is also never wrong to use a nail strengthener and cuticle oil to care for your nails. Also make sure you eat healthy and get all your nutrients. Often the white spots on your nails are harmless. Are you afraid there is more going on? Then contact your doctor.