White spots on the nails: what do they indicate?
White spots appear on the nails for no reason or as a result of some diseases, so it is recommended to visit a doctor to find out the reason behind these spots and treat them.
Your nails can tell you many things about your health, and if white marks or spots appear, this may be normal, or indicate a health problem.
And because the nails grow slowly, the appearance of white spots on the nails may indicate a health problem that occurred a long time ago, up to several months.
Continue reading the following article to learn more about white spots on the nails:
The difference between the white crescent and the white spots on the nails
You must know the difference between the white crescent that is located at the bottom of the nail, and the white spots that appear anywhere on its surface.
The white crescent is one of the parts of the nail that indicates good health, and many people are born with it. Its disappearance may indicate an imbalance in the thyroid gland or circulatory disorders.
As for the white spots that appear suddenly on the nails, they indicate a change in the body.
Causes of white spots on the nails
There are some health problems that lead to the appearance of white spots on the nails, as follows:
- The presence of fungus in the nails, as some types of fungi lead to the appearance of white spots on the surface of the nail.
- An injury or trauma to the nail, in some cases the white spots are the result of the nail hitting something or closing a door on the nail.
- Deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the body, most notably calcium and zinc, and this appears through some symptoms, including the appearance of white spots on the nails.
- Take some medications, as some of them contribute to the appearance of white spots on the nails, such as: medications to treat bacterial infections, skin infections , and blood poisoning, as well as medications to treat urinary tract infections.
- Iron deficiency anemia, the appearance of white spots on the nails can be a sign of general weakness in the body.
- Hyperthyroidism, which leads to disturbances in thyroid hormone levels, and appears through some signs, including white spots on the nails .
- Infection with some diseases, such as: heart disease, kidney failure, and pneumonia , as well as skin diseases, such as: psoriasis and eczema.
Treatment of white spots on the nails
The treatment of white spots depends on the cause of their appearance, as white spots on the nails resulting from natural causes often appear for a short time and then disappear after that.
Treatment is often as follows:
- The white spots on the nails disappear with the growth of the nails and cutting them in the event that the spots were due to trauma to the nail.
- It requires some medications and topical treatments that eliminate it if it is due to fungus.
- White spots on the nails fade away after treating the health problem causing their appearance.
Prevention of white spots on the nails
In general, some methods help avoid the appearance of any spots on the nails, including white spots, and they include the following:
- Taking care of the cleanliness and disinfection of nails, as this reduces the chances of infection with fungi and skin diseases that can cause these spots.
- Avoid contact with irritating materials that can affect nail health.
- Do not overuse nail polish; Because it causes stains and traces to appear.
- Moisturizing the nails continuously is one of the important things that help maintain their health and beauty.