In everyday life, changes in the colour and shape of the nails can provide valuable information about their health. But what does the appearance of white spots mean? The answer of Dr. Ines Zaraa, dermatologist and venereologist in Paris.
Show me your nails and I'll tell you how you're doing. Throughout life, nails can be indicative of our state of health, depending on the shape, appearance or color they will take. If some shapes or marks should be more worrying than others, what about the white spots that regularly occur on the nails of the hands or feet?Called leuconychia, these traces are generally benign, reassures Dr. Ines Zaraa, dermatologist and venereologist in Paris. "Leukonychia can take the form of white dots of different sizes, or white streaks," she begins.
White spots on nails: what are they a sign of?
Leukonychia can have several origins, but their register remains mainly benign. The first important thing to remember is thatlocalized white spots are not a sign of a serious disease, nor can they reveal a deficiency of any kind. So forget the famous mythical belief that stains on the nails are a sign of a lack of calcium. "Deficiencies can eventually give the nails a ridged appearance, a spoon shape, or a softer and more brittle texture, but no white spots," says the dermatologist.
The first origin of white spots on nails is microtrauma, especially "when it occurs at the root of the nail, i.e. the white crescent visible under the folds of flesh," says the specialist. These traumas can be caused by:
- shoes that are too tight at the toes;
- beatings during pedicure or manicure treatments;
- cuticle cutting ;
- any pressure on the nail.Deficiencies can eventually cause nails to look ridged - Dr. Zaraa
"The nail cells normally become transparent when they become keratinized and lose their nucleus and thus light can pass through them," comments Dr. Zaraa. When certain cells retain their nucleus or have a keratinization abnormality, linked to a microtrauma for example, they diffuse more light and appear white."
A second cause of leukonychia can be the drying out of a nailafter the application of a classic nail polish left for a very long time or a semi-permanent nail polish. "These products dry out the surface of the nail and can give them a whitish grainy appearance," adds the dermatologist.
Although they are mainly benign, these white spots can, in some cases, be a symptom of a disease and will give the nail a white appearance or whitish streaks. These can be either superficial fungi, which will remain on the surface of the nail, or inflammatory diseases of the nail, in particular psoriasis, which corresponds to a chronic inflammation of the skin and hair, but which can also affect the nails. The inflammation will then give rise to small white dots. In some much rarer cases, leukonychia can be a sign of lichens or alopecia areata.White spots on nails: when to worry?
However, it is important to worry when there is no obvious factor such as a nail polish worn for too long, an unsuitable shoe or micro-trauma. "A particular family context can also be a warning sign: in fact, psoriasis appears in subjects with a particular genetic background." According to figures from the Health Insurance, in nearly a third of cases, there are cases of psoriasis in the immediate family. Also to watch out for for psoriasis: other lesions, especially on the skin or scalp. Finally, if only one finger is affected for no apparent reason, the specialist recommends consulting a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Attention également dans le cas ou l’ongle est uniformément blanc ou laiteux : cela peut être le signe d’une pathologie plus générale, du foie ou des reins.
Stains on nails: what diagnosis and treatment?
Once the diagnosis has been made by the dermatologist - thanks to his expertise and possibly additional analyses in the case of fungi for example - the treatment of white spots on the nails will naturally depend on the cause. In the case of a microtrauma, nothing particular should be done. "We wait 4 to 6 months for the total regrowth of the nail in the hand, 9 to 12 months in the toe," explains Dr. Zaraa. To prevent dry nails, adopt a gentle and regular routine, which will be enough to protect its surface. "We take breaks between nail polishes, we use non-drying products such as acetone-free nail polishes, we avoid traumatic shoes and we avoid soaking our hands in water or cutting the cuticles," says the dermatologist.
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