White stripes and spots on the nails in medicine are called leuconichia. They are not only a cosmetic defect, but often point to health problems.
Why do white strips appear on the nails?
White strips on the nails can appear as a result of mechanical or chemical damage: unprofessional manicure, injuries of the nail plate, sloppy cutting cuticle , the impact of aggressive detergents. In such cases, the white band is most often observed only on one nail and does not increase in size.
If the nails first appear individual white dots and spots that eventually stretch into horizontal or vertical strips, then the cause of their appearance, as a rule, become a disease or disruption of the internal organs. Let's consider why there are usually white stripes on the nails:
- Lack of certain vitamins and minerals. It can result from compliance with a strict diet, when the body lacks the necessary substances, or in case of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, when they are simply not digested in the required amount. First of all, the appearance of nails is affected by the lack of zinc, iron and calcium, as well as vitamin B12. But violations can be observed and with a shortage of other B vitamins, vitamins A, C, E, iodine, selenium, silicon.
- Nail fungus, or onychomycosis. The share of this disease accounts for about half of the cases of appearance on the nails of white strips. In addition to the appearance of strips, fungal lesions on the nail plate begin to appear irregularities, furrows, the nail can thicken, yellow, flake.
In addition, the appearance of white strips on the nails can be caused by:
- nervous disorders;
- disorders in the pancreas, kidneys, cardiovascular system;
- hormonal imbalance .
How to get rid of white strips on the nails?
It is worth noting that the white strips appearing on the nails do not just disappear so that they disappear, you usually have to wait for the nail to grow.
With mechanical damage, special treatment is not required, except for general measures to strengthen the nail plate.
With an obvious fungal lesion, special antifungal ointments and varnishes are used.
In all other cases, in order to reduce the white strips on the nails, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of their appearance and only then to take appropriate measures.