If You See These White Spots on Your Nails, You Should See a Doctor Immediately

If you noticed a white spot, streak, or line in your fingernail/s, you may have nail injuries…or not.

See, the common reason behind such changes in your nails can be attributed to damage in the base of your nail OR it could be a sign of something more serious. These spots usually go away on their own after some time. If these spots are still in your nails after, say, a few months, you may have to check with your doc.

Leukonychia may appear as a white line or spots in your nails, which can signify that damage in your nails. But there are other reasons behind the nail changes. These are:

Lack of protein or zinc

If you have horizontal bands that extends up to the nail ned, it may be a sign of protein deficiency. If there are streaks in your nails, your body may lack zinc, a metal usually found in the human body.

Fungal Superficial Onychomycosis

White spots on the nails may indicate on warts and fungus (onychomycosis) or psoriasis and eczema, which can affect the nails as well. If the white spots or streaks appear in your toenails, it may be a sign of fungi.

Liver disease, kidney disease or anemia

In rare cases, nail changes can be signs of serious diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Better go to your doctor to make sure.

Sarcoidosis

These small white spots on your nails, can also be one of the seven warning signs of sarcoidosis – disease which affects the skin, lungs and other organs.

Thyroid Gland Problems

When the nail is soft and has white specks, it is a condition known as Plummer nail. Well, you should know that this might indicate that you have problems with your thyroid gland – hypothyroidism. If the line is lower on the nail it means the disease is discovered at early stages.

Allergies

You may be allergic to the nail polish, cleaner, or other chemicals that you use on your nails.