White spots on fingernails: Know the causes and fix them

What are fingernails made of?

Above the cuticle are the horny plates of the nails and below is the nail matrix. You can only see a small part of this, namely a small white crescent where the nail grows out of the nail bed. Nails are made up of over a hundred layers of keratin scales, skin cells that die and harden in the nail bed.

What we see and paint if necessary is the nail plate.

Cause of white spots on fingernail

the white ones stains on the fingernails can arise from various causes:

• it can injuries of the nail matrix, this can happen when you push back the cuticle
• the nail root can be damaged if the nail has been bumped or crushed, here the individual can Layers no longer grow together, air can be trapped, which then makes this area appear white leaves
• the nail matrix can be affected by an immune deficiency or Fever, so children often have this. On average, they have infections with fever more often than adults
instagram viewer
• Frequent hand washing, nail polish remover or harsh detergents can attack the nail plate
• if the nail matrix is ​​slightly injured, by brushing the nails, possibly with a nail file bumps hard on the nail bed, handles the nail scissors too roughly or the cuticle roughly pushes back
• most of the time people who do a lot of nail care tend to have problems with white spots on their nails
• nail fungus can cause white spots because the fungus destroys the keratin and air retention causes these spots to glow white
• Iron deficiency can form white spots on the nails, but there are also other symptoms such as paleness skin, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss and Headache in addition

How do you get rid of the white spots?

• If you have to work a lot with cleaning agents or other chemical substances, you should wear gloves to protect the skin and nails of your hands.
• Finger baths in pure olive oil can help as they soften the nail plate and nourish the nail matrix.
• When caring for your nails, be careful with files, scissors and nail polish remover.
• It also takes about half a year for the white spots on the nails to grow out again, and a little longer on the toenails. You have to have patience.
• If a nail fungus is present, it makes sense to go to the doctor, who can tell which fungus it is by means of an examination and prescribe a specific remedy. Nail fungus does not go away on its own, you definitely have to carry out treatment consistently. Nail fungus is contagious!

As always, if the symptoms don't go away after patient self-treatment, you should see a doctor Visit to rule out a possibly more serious cause, if necessary to recognize and to treat.