The white spot on the nail, also known as leukonychia, is not considered a disease, and usually has no associated symptoms, only a sign indicating a change in the structure of the nail, which is only cause for concern if it appears very often.
Leukonychia can affect the nails of the feet and hands, and may occur due to a lack of vitamin B12 or minerals such as calcium and zinc, for example, or due to small injuries caused by household chores or manicures. This problem can be prevented and treated by maintaining good nail nutrition and hydration.
What causes
There may be several causes that lead to the change in the nail matrix, which is where it forms, leading to the appearance of white spots:
- Allergy to certain substances, such as enamel or cleaning products, for example;
- Lack of calcium, iron, zinc, silicon, folic acid or vitamin B12 due to poor diet;
- Occurrence of minor trauma to the nail, such as holding the finger in some place or suffering some damage in the manicure;
- Antibiotics of the sulfonamide class, such as bactrim, for example;
- Treatments such as chemotherapy;
- Hormonal variations in women;
- Diseases such as anemia, psoriasis, vitiligo, tuberculosis, kidney disease or ringworm.
In addition to these factors, white spots on the nails can also be a genetic problem, affecting a large area of the nail, called total leukonychia.
How to treat white spot on fingernail
Usually the white patches on the nail disappear spontaneously, and no treatment is necessary; however, there are some methods that help remove white patches on the nail or prevent it from appearing.
So, in the case of women who paint their nails, they should remove the enamel before painting the nails again and moisturizing them well. In addition, protective gloves should be worn when using products that can cause allergies, such as those used in domestic work, for example.
It is also very important to make a good diet in order to avoid the lack of minerals that are important for the maintenance of healthy nails like calcium, found in foods like milk and peppers, iron, present in red meats and strawberries, zinc, present in almonds and turkey, vitamin B12 found in salmon and shellfish and folic acid, present in lentils and spinach, for example.
Home treatment
A good way to attenuate the white spots on the nails, besides making them stronger and more beautiful, is to apply a mixture of oils, which is prepared as follows:
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil;
- 1 teaspoon apricot seed oil;
- 1 teaspoon almond oil;
- 1 capsule of 400 IU of vitamin E oil.
Method of preparation
Mix the oils in a jar, shake well and then massage several nails and cuticles into the nails and cuticles, preferably in the morning and evening.
