Healthy nails on fingers and toes are a gentle pink tint with a single white crescent called lunula at the base. So, what are those white spots on my nails that seem to sprout out of nowhere? Leukonychia is a medical term for nail deformities characterized by these white patches. You may have heard that mineral deficiency is related with this ailment, but there’s more to it than that. Infections, underlying medical disorders, and even damage can all result in various types of white patches. There are numerous ways to get rid of them. Let’s go deeper to comprehend this disease so that you know what to do and how to get rid of white spots on nails with a few effective home remedies.

What Are White Spots On Nails And How Do They Look?

White spots on nails or leukonychia partialis is a kind of partial white discoloration of nails. The word leukonychia is derived from two Greek terms, leuko (meaning white) and onyx (meaning nail). Depending on how the white spots appear on your nails, you may have either of these three types of partial leukonychia :

• Leukonychia Striata

If the white spot on your nail appears as a horizontal band running parallel to the lunula (half-moon-shaped base of the nail), you may have leukonychia striata. These are also called Mees lines and generally outgrow with the nail over time.

• Longitudinal Leukonychia

Longitudinal leukonychia appears as multiple pale white bands at least 1mm thick that run parallel to the base of the nail.

• Leukonychia Punctata

Leukonychia punctata is the most common type of leukonychia and looks like small white dots on the nails. These generally disappear over time. However, as the nail grows, the number and pattern of the spots may change.

The most common cause of these white spots is nail trauma or injury to the matrix (base). Let’s see some other potential reasons why white spots form on nails.

What Are The Major Causes Of White Spots On Nails?

• Fungal Infection

White superficial onychomycosis is a common nail fungus that causes small white spots to appear on your nails. While this is more common for toenails, your fingernails may also get affected by this nail infection .

According to a study on Onychomycosis involving 3,226 patients with the disease, men are more likely to get nail fungus than women (40% vs. 23%), toenails are more often infected (69%) than fingernails (31%) in both genders, and the most common fungus found in fingernails is Candida (84%) and in toenails is dermatophytes (48%).

• Damage Or Allergic Reactions Associated With Nail Products

Acrylic or gel-based nail products may damage your nails and lead to these white spots. Additionally, an allergic reaction to nail products like polish, gloss, nail paint remover, or hardener may also cause nail discoloration and white patches or spots (3).

• Mineral Deficiency

A calcium or zinc deficiency is often claimed to be a cause of white spots on nails. But some studies suggest that zinc or calcium deficiency does not lead to white spots on nails (4). Regardless, overall nail health does depend on getting adequate minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, and copper (5). A deficiency in these minerals may adversely affect nail plate composition and make it prone to damage. Therefore, even if there is no conclusive evidence on how mineral deficiencies may lead to white spots, they are often addressed during treatment methods (6).

A blogger going by the name Nail Luxxe talks about how she noticed white spots on her nails while doing a manicure and was told she had calcium deficiency. Years later, her doctor explained that they were caused by a minor trauma to the nail. She adds, “I took this to mean that it was similar to a scar. But unlike a scar that heals, the white mark doesn’t disappear. You have to wait for it to grow out (i).”

• Other Causes

More uncommonly, white spots on nails may be due to underlying conditions like heart disease, psoriasisⁱ  or eczemaⁱ  , renal failure, and pneumonia. Arsenic poisoning may also be responsible for the white discoloration of nails. Systemic diseases (diseases that affect multiple systems in the body) may also cause white coloration in nails in rare cases (7).

You can manage benignⁱ  white spots on nails with a few simple home remedies. Learn more about these remedies in the next section.

Home Remedies For White Spots On Nails

. Eat Foods Rich In Minerals

Incorporate foods rich in these minerals into your diet so that your nail plate can be strong and recover from damages from trauma more effectively (8).

• Use Skin-toned Or Colored Nail Polish

Use nail polish to cover up the white spots for a temporary solution. You can apply a layer of good quality nail polish that matches your skin tone for a natural look. You may also experiment with fun colors.

• Avoid Exposure To Allergens

If the white spots on your nails have appeared after a certain nail product usage, you may want to discontinue using it. It may also be helpful to check the ingredients to see if you may be allergic to any component in that product and avoid it going forward.

In most cases, white spots on the nail go away on their own within 6 months, as that is how long it takes for the entire nail plate on your fingers to be replaced (9). However, there may be situations where you may need to seek medical attention.