White spots on nails (Betekhtin M.S.)

White spots of nails (Betekhtin M.S.)

White spots on the nails are quite common and are usually not dangerous. Many people have had such spots at least once in their lives.

The medical name for this phenomenon is leukonychia, and its manifestation on the nails most often does not turn out to be a consequence of a serious illness.

White spots can vary in appearance: thin dots, wide lines, lines crossing the nail, or individual wide spots.

Causes of white spots on nails

1) Allergic reaction

Allergic reaction to components of nail polish, gloss, hardener or remover.

2) Nail fungus (onychomycosis)

When white superficial onychomycosis appears, the first sign of infection may be small white dots on the nail. Typically, the infection gradually involves the entire nail and spreads to the nail bed. Additionally, toenails may become layered and then thick and brittle.

3) Damage to the nail

The most common cause of white spots is damage to the nail bed, which can occur when the nail or finger is pricked, hit, or pinched. Frequent manicures, pedicures, and the use of gels or acrylic nails can also damage the nail bed. Damage to the base of the nail can cause whiteheads and spots to appear as the nail grows. But, since the growth time of the nail is long, it can be difficult to independently associate the damage with subsequent manifestations. Some damage may not appear until after 4 weeks.

4) Lack of minerals

A lack of minerals such as zinc and calcium in the body can cause white spots to appear.

5) Other reasons

The most rare causes of white spots on nails: heart disease, poor health, liver or kidney failure, psoriasis or eczema, pneumonia, arsenic poisoning.

Diagnostics

If white spots appear infrequently and the most likely cause is injury, then there is no need to visit a doctor.

If stains are constantly present on the nails or they become more numerous, then you should consult a specialist. Most of the causes of white spots can be easily eliminated with proper diagnosis.

At your appointment, the doctor will examine your nails, as well as your hands or feet. Based on the examination, a diagnosis will be assumed and, if necessary, additional tests and treatment will be prescribed.

Treatment

Treatment directly depends on the cause of white spots. In case of an allergic reaction, stop using varnishes, gels, etc. In case of fungus, use appropriate antifungal agents. Nail injury requires time to heal and preventive measures.

Author of the publication: Betekhtin Mikhail Sergeevich, dermatovenerologist, candidate of medical sciences.

Classification

There are several varieties of this pathology:

Limited leukonychia - in this case, partial damage to the plate is noted.
Stripe leukonychia - with this form, whitish stripes, vertical or horizontal, appear on the nail plates. Often a similar symptom appears if poisoning with thallium or arsenic has occurred.
Point leukonychia - this variety is characterized by the appearance of white dots. They can be small or large, single or multiple. This form is the most common today. It usually develops after various mechanical damages.
Total leukonychia - the entire plate is completely affected. The pathological process begins in the nail hole. Most often, such a lesion occurs in childhood or adolescence. It is associated with past infections, fungal diseases, liver and kidney diseases.

According to the size of the spots, the following forms of damage are determined:

Subtotal (limited) - appear if keratinization of the plate appears partially and does not occupy the entire surface. Typically, several nails are affected.
Total – lesions are located over the entire surface and can appear on all nails at once.

Eliminating white spots on nail plates

Therapy is aimed primarily at eliminating the underlying disease. If a fungus is present, the patient is prescribed local (creams, ointments) and general (tablets, capsules) antifungal drugs. If we are talking about damage to internal organs, foci of infection are neutralized with the help of antibiotics, and inflammation is relieved with anti-inflammatory drugs.

In general, nail treatment involves:

correction of the diet, drawing up an individual diet;
long-term use of multivitamin complexes;
correct alternation of periods of physical activity and rest;
limiting stress.

Particular attention should be paid to nutrition. A dermatologist gives general recommendations regarding diet; for more detailed information, it is worth visiting a nutritionist. As a rule, doctors strongly advise patients to make vegetables, fruits and dairy products the basis of their diet. As for taking vitamins in the form of tablets, it must be carried out in courses of 2-3 months, every six months.

To enhance the effect of drug therapy and diet, it is also advisable to resort to salon cosmetology procedures. Masks for hands and nails, paraffin therapy, massage with cosmetic oils are useful.

Treatment with folk remedies

For those for whom white and sometimes brown spots on the nails are a problem, you can use effective folk methods to eliminate them and strengthen the plates:

Bath with sea salt. To prepare it, you need to prepare a decoction of oak bark (1 tbsp of raw material per glass of water), take 1 tbsp. l. sea salt and 1 tsp. lemon juice. Mix everything (the broth should be warm), keep your hands in this bath for 20 minutes. After completing this procedure, it is advisable to rub your nails with a solution of vitamin E or fish oil. This procedure improves blood circulation and effectively strengthens nails. You can do it every day for 3 weeks.
Bath with potassium permanganate. Dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of warm water. potassium permanganate. Keep your fingers in this bath for 5 minutes, wash and dry your hands. Apply a layer of olive oil to your nails.
Bath with tea. You can keep your fingers in a strong green tea solution. The bath should last 15 minutes, after which the nail plates are lubricated with castor oil .
Beer bath. Mix a strong chamomile decoction and dark beer in equal proportions, heat until the solution is warm. Keep your hands in it for 30 minutes. After completing the procedure, rub in olive oil.
“Mask” of oils. To carry out this procedure, the nail plates are lubricated with linseed or olive oil, adding a little lemon juice to it. You can do this before going to bed, wearing gloves after lubrication. Also suitable for this procedure is olive oil, to which a few drops of iodine vitamin A solution . This procedure accelerates regenerative processes.
“Mask” with garlic. You need to crush a few cloves of garlic. Steam your hands by holding them over the steam for several minutes, then rub the garlic pulp into the nail plates. Rinse thoroughly after half an hour. This remedy should not be used if there are open wounds on the hands, or if the person cannot tolerate garlic.
Massage. You can use vegetable oil or fish oil with the addition of a few drops of vitamin A or E to massage the nail plates. The product should be slowly rubbed into them for several minutes, massaging the fingers.

Delamination

Quite often, parents are faced with the fact that their child’s nails peel and break. Why is this happening?

This deviation causes:

improper cutting of nails;
lack of microelements, vitamins (vitamin A, E, B2, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc);
mechanical damage. For example, nails on the hands peel if the child bites them or sucks fingers, on the feet - if he wears shoes that rub or squeeze the tips of the toes;
health problems (iron deficiency anemia, adrenal dysfunction, onychomycosis).

In most cases, correction of nutrition, taking vitamin-mineral complexes, and rubbing vegetable oils rich in vitamins A and E into the nail plate helps to cope with delamination.

But if its cause is health problems, examination and tests will be needed.

Diet

Protein diet

Efficiency: 3-4 kg in 1 week
Terms: from 3 days to 4 weeks
Cost of products: from 100 to 150 rubles. in a day

Calcium diet

Efficacy: therapeutic effect after a month
Terms: up to 3 months or more (depending on condition)
Cost of products: 1400-1500 rubles per week

It is very important that the diet is balanced, varied and nutritious. The diet must include the following products:

A variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs.
Sea fish, seaweed.
Protein products - meat, fish, eggs, dairy products.
Nuts, seeds.
Legumes.

You should adhere to the correct eating regimen and drink enough fluids.

Tests and diagnostics

If white spots appear on your nails, you should definitely contact a dermatologist and undergo the tests he prescribes. First, the specialist examines and interviews the patient. In addition, the following examinations are required:

Analysis of scrapings to determine fungal infection.
Spectral analysis of the plate for the determination of microelements.
General and biochemical blood tests to determine the presence of pathological processes in the body.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor prescribes other studies or consultation with specialists.

It is important to carry out differential diagnosis with the following diseases:

Onychomycosis - develops when infected with a fungal infection.
May's stripes are a symptom indicating thallium or arsenic poisoning.
Brittleness and delamination are a consequence of the dryness of the plate.
Violation of shape - the nail may grow in and have a pathological shape.

Prevention

To prevent the formation of white stripes on nails, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

monitor the quality of food: reduce sugar, fast carbohydrates, introduce a sufficient amount of fiber, protein, vegetable oils
Take regular care of your hands and nails
improve digestion: in case of low acidity, discuss with your doctor the possibility of using betaine and pepsin for normal absorption of vitamins and minerals from food, use enzymes, choleretic drugs
eliminate metabolic disorders, normalize body weight
observe safety precautions when performing potentially dangerous, traumatic work
give up bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol, overeating
maintain a drinking regime: the daily norm is calculated using the formula 30 ml multiplied by body weight
use protective gloves when working with household or industrial chemical cleaning agents
give preference to moderate physical activity: running, yoga, gymnastics, swimming, daily walking in the fresh air (7000-10000 steps), breathing exercises
eliminating the source of stress, maintaining a work and rest schedule
preventive intake of vitamin complexes and dietary supplements selected by a doctor individually
undergo an annual scheduled basic examination of general health: blood, urine, stool tests, ultrasound diagnostics, for patients with chronic diseases - be under constant medical supervision

All preventive recommendations boil down to adhering to the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, avoiding negative emotions and significant experiences, moving more, and developing. This has a beneficial effect on physical and psychological well-being, allows you to avoid many somatic diseases, and also significantly improve your appearance, including the condition of your skin, hair and nails. Timely, high-quality therapy of systemic diseases under the supervision of an experienced specialist is also indicated.