Due to the constant activity of a person, his nails can be exposed to various diseases. Repeatedly throughout their lives, they have given multiple causes for concern, changing color, smoothness and shape. The most common indicator for anxiety is white spots on the fingernails. You can often hear that such a manifestation is a sign of malaise or weakened immunity. But what do these spots really show? First of all, you need to know that absolutely he althy nails will never differ in a changed shape or color.
Description
White stains on the nails are considered a pathological condition that is formed due to nail keratinization, when the plate becomes keratinized with the appearance of small bubbles between its layers. In medicine, this damage is called "leukonychia". It can be found in any person, regardless of gender and age.
The main factor in the appearance of white spots can be both endogenous and exogenous phenomena. There are people who do not consider such a disease a problem, but on the contrary, they are sure that light stains onnails will bring happiness, good luck and good events. Modern medicine has a completely different opinion, because the human body is a single system, and the formation of even minor disorders can indicate probable, and sometimes complex failures. And this is evidenced by white spots on the nails of the fingers. The photo is shown below.
Stages of leukonychia
There are some stages of such a disease.
- With a minor form of the disease, you can observe a few almost imperceptible light spots on 1-3 nails.
- A sign of pinpoint leukonychia is the appearance of a mass of small white dots or one large one.
- The strip-like nature of the disease speaks for itself. The plate of the nail is dotted with a considerable number of varying degrees of density of light lines. Depending on their location (vertical or horizontal), doctors can determine the possible ailment of which organ they show.
- Generalized leukonychia is the most severe. In this situation, the entire nail plate is affected, and a specialist should be urgently contacted.
White spots on the fingernails: the reason
Leukonychia in the form of large and small dot stains indicates a disorder in the process of keratinization of the nail strip. They get a light shade as a result of the formation of air layers in the tissues of the plate. The main sources of such spots:
- systematic use of household chemicals;
- damage during cuticle removal;
- stab the nailor pinched finger;
- repeated gluing of false nails or extensions.
If the anomaly appeared due to external causes, it will pass on its own in a couple of weeks. If not, then it is necessary to look for other factors due to which white spots form on the nails of the hands, namely:
- lack of vitamins, iron and zinc in the body;
- gastrointestinal problems;
- fungal infections;
- low hemoglobin;
- heart or kidney failure;
- anemia;
- metabolic disorders;
- colitis;
- all kinds of diets;
- anorexia;
- stress;
- hepatitis;
- enteritis;
- cirrhosis of the liver.
White spots on fingernails in children
Quite often, this manifestation occurs in babies. Most parents do not pay any attention to this, but in vain, since various diseases can be the causes of such points on the nails. For many children, this pathology goes away quickly, and for some, on the contrary, it lasts for a long period of time. In addition to the factors that were mentioned above, the appearance of light spots on the nails of a child can speak of completely different ailments. For example, about the existence of hormonal dysfunction or worms. It happens that the problem arises due to:
- complications with the stomach, heart;
- high blood sugar;
- protein deficiency;
- disorders of carbohydrate metabolism;
- lung weakness;
- nervous disorders.
As you can see, the list of reasons is pretty big. Therefore, if white spots were found on the fingernails of the baby, it is imperative to contact a specialist. You will need to conduct a general examination and review the child's diet.
Diagnosis
If there are only changes on the plates, but there is no external factor, then it is quite possible that some internal cause is the culprit for the appearance of the symptom. Usually the disease is determined by a dermatologist. If necessary, you can visit an endocrinologist, a cardiologist and a neuropathologist.
How to avoid leukonychia
From the above, it is now clear that the disease that destroys the nails, in most cases, is considered a sign of internal disorders in the human body. And in order not to face such a problem and, even worse, not to start an existing ailment, you can prevent such unpleasant phenomena as white spots on the fingernails.
- Start eating right. Change your diet as much as possible. The menu must contain fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, fish and meat. In particular, you need to pay attention to products that increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, such as apples, pomegranates, dried apricots, liver and buckwheat. Such food can prevent anemia.
- You should forget about convenience foods, canned food and sweets. In spring and winter,To replenish the energy reserves of the body, you can take multivitamins. Today, pharmacies offer a wide range of different supplements.
- You can also start using fortified healing varnishes to remove white spots on the fingernails, the cause of which may be the use of ordinary varnishes or household chemicals.
- If, nevertheless, these light stains are found on the nail plates, it is recommended to visit a competent doctor as soon as possible so as not to start the emerging disease. It will already accurately determine the state of the disturbing organ.
How to get rid of
If the nails were affected by chemicals, it is recommended to keep your fingers in slightly warm water with the addition of iodine and sea s alt for 15-20 minutes. Such an event can "pull out" harmful substances that poison the nail plate. In case of direct contact with household chemicals, use household gloves.
Excellent results can be achieved as a result of a course of oil treatment if there is a white spot on the thumbnail, for example. Experts advise rubbing a mixture of lemon juice and warm olive oil into the nail plate (mix 100 ml of oil with 5 drops of juice). The following solution will also nourish the nails wonderfully: 60 ml of almond oil (olive oil can be used), 3 drops of iodine, and 5 drops of vitamin A. You need to rub this โpotionโ before going to bed.
If light streaks onnails are the result of damage or improper use of a manicure tool, no special treatment is required. You just need to apply procedures that improve the condition of the nails. For example, you can make a soothing bath for your hands: 1 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers should be poured with 200 g of beer heated to 70-80 degrees. Then insist the mixture for a couple of 15 minutes, filter through a strainer, cool to the optimum temperature. And then you can already lower your fingers into the solution for about 20-25 minutes. At the end of the procedure, it will be useful to lubricate the nail plates with fish oil.
Folk treatments
If there are white spots on the fingernails, how to treat them? You can also in other ways:
- required to mix in equal parts a decoction of oak bark, chamomile and water, hold your fingers in this warm bath and after the event grease them with apricot or olive oil;
- dissolve in a glass of warm liquid 1 tbsp. l. sea s alt, add 1 tsp. lemon juice and put the nails there for 20 minutes, then wash off the s alty water from the hands and grease them with a nourishing cream or oils;
- you can grind 5โ7 cloves of garlic, steam your fingers, smear the base of the nails with this gruel, keep this mixture on the nail plates for about 30 minutes so that the white spots on the nails of the middle finger (for example) completely disappear;
- it is also recommended to brew in 1 glass of boiling water 2 tbsp. l. green tea, then dip all fingers in a warm liquid in turn - from the little finger to the thumb (the duration of this procedure is 5-7 minutes);
- nonothing better than fish oil, which can cure leukonychia: rub it into the tips of all fingers and wash off with warm water after 5 minutes;
- restorative massage also gives its results: you need to lubricate your fingertips with any oil (vegetable) and gently massage the nail plates for 2-3 minutes.
If all of the above methods did not help to remove white spots on the fingernails, then you should make an appointment with a specialist.
General tips
There are various recommendations that can help avoid leukonychia.
- You need to take care of your nervous system - no depression and stress!
- Drink vitamins after consulting your doctor.
- You need to protect your hands from damage and be careful with manicure.
- Pay more attention to diet and sleep.
- Apply household chemicals with gloves.
- If there is a fungus, be sure to listen to the advice of a specialist. The therapy is long - up to 6 months, and it cannot be interrupted in any way.
From this article, everyone has now learned what white spots on the fingernails are. There is a cure for leukonychia and it is not very difficult.
