RE: White spots on nails

The white spots are cause by trauma to the nail, usually just from banging your nails against something. This causes the nail plate to detach from the nail bed in a very minute way and doesnt cause any problems. The white patch is a void between the nail bed and the nail plate and will grow out. If you hit your nail hard enough it would cause a bruise - which can result in loosing the nail. White spots are not caused by calcium deficiency as commonly thought.

The ridges on your nail can signify certain things, but it depends which way they are present. If they are base to tip, it is nothing to worry about, it is usually hereditary - just like moles, skin pigmentation and hair colour. If they run side to side, it is usually the signs of a recent illness and you can judge how long ago the illness was by how long the nail has grown, that is if it is halfway up your nail, you were probably ill about 8 weeks ago.

Unfortunately you cant really do anything about the white spots, apart from not banging your nails. The ridges can be buffed out with a 3 way buffer, but dont overdo it as you'll weaken your nails.

Hope this helps.

RE: White spots on nails

Hi Rubbercat

I haven't been aware of banging my nails - but who knows! The ridges on my nails do go from base to tip so I guess I'm healthy enough. Thanks for the info. I guess I'll just have to live with 'funny' nails. 🙂

RE: White spots on nails

Hi Poppet

White spots on nails is a sign of zinc deficiency. If you don't believe me type:

"zinc" AND "white spots"

into Google!

Easily resolved by taking a zinc supplement... last thing at night, cos lots of things interfere with its absorption.

Ava

RE: White spots on nails

hi poppet,

ridges going long ways/wise... eeeks cant decide how to write that!... are also a sign of...... age!!

<g>

RE: White spots on nails

This subject casts me back a long way in time! But I can speak from some experience.

I had many and large white spots on my nails as a male teen, and the wrinkles too. It was very obvious. Then it all went away. I can only conclude that it was nothing to do with psychology, but all to do with some form of vitamin deficiency.

Btw Rosie, I wrote a whole post to you and others on the footie thread, but using another PC it got lost! So be that as it may...

Anyway, on the subject, I can only conclude that when I had this symptom a long time ago it did me no harm and just went away...

V

RE: White spots on nails

Btw Rosie, I wrote a whole post to you and others on the footie thread, but using another PC it got lost! So be that as it may...

aww and there was me thinking you had abandoned us! it seems a long time ago now, doesnt it?

RE: White spots on nails

Hi All

I am happy to report that since I started this thread back in March the white spots and ridges have disappeared and my nails seem to be very healthy now. Just like Venetian. I didn't find out what caused them but whatever it was obviously isn't a problem now. 🙂 Thanks for all your replies.

RE: White spots on nails

ORIGINAL: ro§ie

Btw Rosie, I wrote a whole post to you and others on the footie thread, but using another PC it got lost! So be that as it may...

aww and there was me thinking you had abandoned us! it seems a long time ago now, doesnt it?

The sooner forgotten the better (the footie, not the thread!). Something was quite wrong in the team all the way through, but it would be too disheartening and pointless maybe to try to analyse it. Though I'm tempted.

V xxx

RE: White spots on nails

well, you could always resurrect the footie thread... i quite miss it <g>

RE: White spots on nails

ORIGINAL: ro§ie

well, you could always resurrect the footie thread... i quite miss it <g>

Well, it may take the boundless enthusiasm of Roger to do that. 😉

V

RE: White spots on nails

Ok, I know you're past the problem, but here goes - in case anyone else has this problem.

The proper term for white spots - sometimes refered to as 'milk spots' - is leukonychia. There are a few forms of this. pseudo leukonychia and (the one you most probably had) punctate leukonychia.

The natural nail plate is made up of the keratinization of cells incubated and produced by the matrix. When new baby cells emerge from the matrix, they don’t look a damn thing like a nail plate. Instead, they look more like little round and white squidges. During the keratinization process, these cells ‘flatten’ out and link together to form the natural nail plate. When large areas of these white squidges don’t fully keratinize, the result is an area of the natural nail that still contains unformed natural nail plate, or rather… white squidges.

These spots are most often caused from some type of damage or trauma to the matrix during the incubation or keratinization period. Most miss this aspect though as the portion of the natural nail plate that contains the said spot will generally take up to 6 weeks before it makes its debut from under the eponychium.

Most of the time Leukonychia spots are seen within the natural nail plate instead of on top of it. That is because if they appear in the top portion of the natural nail plate, they usually just flake off, leaving behind small pits where the cells should have been getting keratinized (hardened) with its neighbors. This type of pitting can be frequently seen in clients with psoriasis of the natural nail plate.

Pseudo Leukonychia is a temporary whitening of the natural nail plate that occurs when an area of the natural nail becomes stripped of oil and moisture, namely if you have been excessively using nail polish removers, etc.

The ridges could also have been caused by trauma (knocking the nail, etc) to the matrix and, luckily, wasn't permanant.

Sorry to say, but neither of them are caused by calcium or zinc deficiencies (sp?)