White Spots on Nails

[Fez Horsemen]

Dr. Steve,

I have white spots on my fingernails. Not everyone but a couple here and there. I have always had them, as long as I can remember. I've read that it could be a vitamin deficincy or something else (even leprosy). What should I do?

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve,

I have white spots on my fingernails. Not everyone but a couple here and there. I have always had them, as long as I can remember. I've read that it could be a vitamin deficincy or something else (even leprosy). What should I do?

FH:

These spots are called punctate leukonychia ("punctate"=spots, leuko=white, onychia=pertaining to nails). If they look like this:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/AFPprinter/20040315/1417_f7.jpg

then the vast majority of cases have an unknown cause. I always assumed it was trauma to the nail beds, causing the nail generating part (near the cuticle near the joint) to malfunction slightly, making a white spot.

Large spots or stripes can be due to a zinc deficiency, and confluent white spots affecting the whole nail,

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/2013.jpg

can be caused by arsenic poisoning, heart failure, and malnutrition. Arsenic poisoning can also cause horizontal lines:

http://www.handresearch.com/finger-nails/Menu_bestanden/leukonychia-2.jpg

If it takes white spots on your nails to eat a more balanced diet and maybe take a vitamin every once in awhile, feel free to blame it on that. Otherwise, it's probably nothing to worry about. :=)

[BrooklynKat]

Dr. Steve, how about a long brown line on one finger? This just developed suddenly and i thought nothing of it untill i read it might be a form of skin cancer?

[Death Metal Moe]

White spots on your fingernails either means nail bed trauma, zinc deficiency or you give hand jobs outside the bus depot for money.

[ToiletCrusher]

I thought calcium.

[KEITHJAY]

Ive heard white spots on your nails means youve had cuts on your body and they are some kind of deposit from healing process

[toolshed]

They are called "French Tips".

[Fez Horsemen]

Thanks Dr. Steve!

[Death Metal Moe]

Jesus, where ya been Fez Horsemen? We thought those fucking white spots were the death of ya!