White nails on the toes and hands: why do they change color, what does this mean, what could be the reasons other than illness, how to solve the problem?

Quite often, a person’s general health can be judged by examining his nail plates. If your nails suddenly change their appearance, then this is a reason to think about whether everything is okay with your body. A common deviation is white nails.

Changing the color of the nail plate to white should be accompanied by a mandatory visit to a doctor or qualified cosmetologist (if you often perform various cosmetic manipulations with your nails). Before starting treatment, it is necessary to establish the root cause of the development of such a deviation.

Why do the nail plates on the hands and feet turn white, what does this mean?

There are actually many reasons for the appearance of such deviations.
For convenience, they were divided into two large groups: external factors and internal factors. In this case, the color change of the plate can also occur in different ways . For example, a nail hole can grow in different directions, gradually filling the entire space of the nail.

Or white spots of different shapes and sizes appear on the surface of the nail in a chaotic manner, which over time will also increase and fill the entire nail.

No matter how the disorder develops, do not delay contacting a specialist. Nails can turn white due to the development of serious diseases, so the sooner you make a diagnosis, the faster you will defeat the disease.

External reasons

External factors include cosmetic procedures, injuries, reactions to medications, etc. This group includes reasons that are not related to health or are indirectly related to it:

Using low-quality cosmetics .
Cheap nail polishes are cheap because they contain budget components that have a detrimental effect on the condition of the nail plate. Harmful compounds destroy fragile nails, especially if you often use low-quality coatings. Over time, repeated use of such polishes will cause your nails to become brittle, they will begin to peel off and change color from soft pink to white. This category includes not only cheap varnishes, but also products that have expired.
Improper care of nail plates. Sometimes the reason for a sudden change in nail color may be incorrect or insufficient care for them.
For example, negligence in the choice of cosmetics for hands or nails can lead to an allergic reaction and a change in the color of the nail plates to white.
Carefully read the composition of all care products that touch your hands, conduct an experiment during which you will monitor changes on your nails for 1-2 weeks of continuous use of cosmetics. Carefully choose cosmetics for care, consult with a specialist.
Nail injury .
Sometimes the appearance of white spots on the nails can be caused by injury to the plate. Doctors note that the nail does not always immediately respond to traumatic effects. Sometimes the effects of a blow or cut can take several days or even weeks to appear. If the injury was severe, then the appearance of white spots on the nail plate over time should not scare you. Most often, this deviation is temporary and does not require medical intervention or special therapy.
Reaction to drugs . Some medications affect the condition of the nails. Moreover, the color of nails can change during the course of treatment, both on the hands and feet. The color of the nail plate can be affected by certain classes of antibiotics (for example, sulfonamides). They not only change the color of the nail, but also lead to the loss of its natural shine.

Important! If you entrust your manicure to a specialist, then if you notice any changes, be sure to consult with him. Find out what drugs and cosmetics he used on your nails, study their composition and warn the master if you suspect you have an intolerance to some components.

Internal factors

The internal causes that cause the appearance of white spots on nails are much more difficult to combat.
If none of the external factors apply to you, then the issue may be due to health problems. Be sure to consult a doctor if you discover the described deviation; only he will be able to give you the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Internal reasons affecting the change in nail color:

Lack of protein . White fingernails may be a result of not getting enough protein in your daily diet. Characteristic signs of protein deficiency are horizontal whitish stripes that cross the nail plate. Usually, dietary adjustments are sufficient to eliminate these defects.
Lack of zinc .
Another important element that affects the color of the nail plate. Typically, zinc deficiency results in the appearance of white spots or streaks on the nails. Adjust your diet, add beef, nuts, and seafood, which are rich in zinc. If you don’t have the opportunity to diversify your diet, then you can take a course of appropriate vitamins. The main thing is to consult your doctor first.
Lack of calcium . The appearance of white spots on the nail plate can often be associated with a lack of calcium in the body. In this case, only a change in diet or calcium supplements can help (but only with the permission of a doctor).
Anemia .
Lack of iron in the body has a detrimental effect on all human life support systems. So the changes that occur with nails are only a small part of the problems. Lack of iron causes oxygen starvation in the body. At the same time, the nail changes its shape, it becomes like a spoon. Treatment can be difficult. First you need to donate blood for analysis. If anemia is confirmed, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe you a special diet and iron supplements.
Deviations in the functioning of the spleen . Whitening of the nail plate and the appearance of small depressions on it may indicate the presence of spleen diseases. In this case, only the appropriate doctor will help. He will help make the correct diagnosis and provide the necessary therapy. Self-medication in this case can be dangerous.
Onychomycosis . This is a fungal infection that causes long streaks and light spots to appear on the nails (in the initial stages). Over time, the light stripes will change their shade to dirty gray, the nail will become denser and more fragile, and the plate will become deformed. At the first symptoms, contact a specialist, he will tell you what to do to eliminate the problem.
Worm infestation . The presence of parasites in the body cannot but affect the condition of hair, skin and nails. The presence of parasitic colonies is indicated by flattening and splitting of the ends of the nail plates. Both medications and folk remedies (which sometimes turn out to be more effective) can help in the fight against the disease.
Autoimmune disorders .
There are more than 150 diseases in this category, so it makes no sense to list them all. It is only worth noting that most often whitening of nails is caused by the presence of type I diabetes, endometriosis and psoriasis. A signal that a change in nail color is associated specifically with autoimmune problems is the presence of a red spot among the white spots on the plate. Only seeing a doctor and systematic treatment can help.

Other possible diseases that cause whitening of nails include::

hepatitis;
dysbacteriosis;
colitis;
cirrhosis;
enteritis;
heart failure;
chronic renal failure;
depression;
nervous exhaustion.

Tests and diagnostics

If white spots appear on your nails, you should definitely contact a dermatologist and undergo the tests he prescribes. First, the specialist examines and interviews the patient. In addition, the following examinations are required:

Analysis of scrapings to determine fungal infection.
Spectral analysis of the plate for the determination of microelements.
General and biochemical blood tests to determine the presence of pathological processes in the body.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor prescribes other studies or consultation with specialists.

It is important to carry out differential diagnosis with the following diseases:

Onychomycosis - develops when infected with a fungal infection.
May's stripes are a symptom indicating thallium or arsenic poisoning.
Brittleness and delamination are a consequence of the dryness of the plate.
Violation of shape - the nail may grow in and have a pathological shape.

How to treat?

Treatment of the deviation will directly depend on the root cause . Therefore, do not delay contacting a specialist.

If the disorder is associated with a local (dermatological) cause, then the doctor will first take a scraping from your nail.
After the necessary tests, the pathogen will be identified. At this stage, a fungal infection is usually detected. In this case, there is nothing to fear, because white spots on the nails indicate that the infection is at the initial stage of development. Your dermatologist will prescribe topical medications for you. These are usually ointments, creams, gels or nail polishes. The most well-known preparations of this type are “Loceril” varnish, “Demictel”, “Exoderil” cream, “Mikozan” ointment, “Nitrofungin” solution.
If the cause of the appearance of white spots on the nails is an injury, then you will have to strain a little and remember where and how you received the injury.
In case of serious injuries (for example, a broken nail), you will still have to see a doctor. He will help you choose a treatment that will establish normal growth of the new nail plate. If the injury was not too serious, then no additional measures are required, the nail will heal itself over time and the spots will disappear.
If there is a shortage of any microelements or vitamins, the doctor will prescribe you an appropriate multivitamin complex or drugs that replenish the deficiency of minerals in the body. Usually the choice is “Complivit”, “Evalar with calcium”, “Vivasan” and others.
If you have serious diseases of the liver, kidneys, endocrine system, autoimmune disorders, heart or gastrointestinal tract, you need to contact specialists of the appropriate profile.
Treatment will depend on the diagnosis and severity of the pathology. Be prepared that therapy may be long. But the good news is that even chronic diseases can be put into stable remission.

Classification

There are several varieties of this pathology:

Limited leukonychia - in this case, partial damage to the plate is noted.
Stripe leukonychia - with this form, whitish stripes, vertical or horizontal, appear on the nail plates. Often a similar symptom appears if poisoning with thallium or arsenic has occurred.
Point leukonychia - this variety is characterized by the appearance of white dots. They can be small or large, single or multiple. This form is the most common today. It usually develops after various mechanical damages.
Total leukonychia - the entire plate is completely affected. The pathological process begins in the nail hole. Most often, such a lesion occurs in childhood or adolescence. It is associated with past infections, fungal diseases, liver and kidney diseases.

According to the size of the spots, the following forms of damage are determined:

Subtotal (limited) - appear if keratinization of the plate appears partially and does not occupy the entire surface. Typically, several nails are affected.
Total – lesions are located over the entire surface and can appear on all nails at once.

Cosmetic procedures

Provided that the problem of a white nail is associated with external disorders, you can get by with medical cosmetic procedures.
You can go to a beauty salon, where specialists will remove your cosmetic defect with special tools and preparations.

During the treatment of the defect, you should stop using decorative coatings of any composition and nail extensions.

Baths with the addition of sea salt . Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt per liter of hot water. Nails are soaked in this solution for 10–15 minutes.
A decoction of oak bark and chamomile . Take 1 tbsp. spoon of vegetable mixture, pour 1 liter of boiling water. Soak your hands in this bath for microdamages for 12–17 minutes.
Massage with vitamin A and E. Puncture the capsule with vitamins daily and rub their contents into the nail plates.
Olive oil and lemon juice . Mix the ingredients in equal proportions and heat them slightly. Rub the resulting mixture into the nail plates twice or thrice a week.

Diet

Protein diet

Efficiency: 3-4 kg in 1 week
Terms: from 3 days to 4 weeks
Cost of products: from 100 to 150 rubles. in a day

Calcium diet

Efficacy: therapeutic effect after a month
Terms: up to 3 months or more (depending on condition)
Cost of products: 1400-1500 rubles per week

It is very important that the diet is balanced, varied and nutritious. The diet must include the following products:

A variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs.
Sea fish, seaweed.
Protein products - meat, fish, eggs, dairy products.
Nuts, seeds.
Legumes.

You should adhere to the correct eating regimen and drink enough fluids.

Prevention

In order to keep your nails healthy and beautiful, you need to follow a number of recommendations:

Eat properly and nutritiously, adjust your daily routine (you should get enough sleep), exercise.
Take care of your hands and nails, choose gentle and high-quality care products, and conduct regular inspections of your nail plates.
Do manicures and pedicures, use only high-quality coatings, and always treat the free edge of the nail and cuticle.
Never bite your nails!
When working with chemical compounds and drugs, wear protective gloves. The same applies to work in the garden or garden.
Take vitamin complexes.
Regularly use nourishing oils or creams containing them.
Do not wear tight shoes or tight gloves.
Use “liquid gloves” when going out into the city and places with large crowds of people. Most infections are transmitted through hands.
Get checked regularly by your doctor, especially if you have chronic diseases.
At the first changes in the shape and color of your nails, contact a specialist.

Such a minor deviation as the appearance of whitish spots on the nails can be a signal of serious disorders in the body. Therefore, do not delay diagnosis and treatment. If the deviation appears due to external factors (for example, poor-quality cosmetics or improper care), then you should definitely reconsider your attitude towards manicure, and also choose better quality nail products.

Natural causes

Perhaps a similar condition was passed on to you from your direct relatives. In this case, no special treatment is required. But just in case, it doesn’t hurt to undergo a full examination. There is a possibility that white nails are a sign of some hereditary disease.

Why did my toenails turn white and become deformed? Most often, whitening can be due to a strong blow or prolonged compression on the fingers. This happens due to the death of the upper plates. As a result, they lose their color, becoming colorless.