what do white marks mean on your nails?
30236
You may notice white spots or dots along your nails if you are deficient in certain minerals or vitamins. The deficiencies most commonly linked to this issue are zinc deficiency and calcium deficiency.
264653
If your nails are mostly white with a narrow pink band at the tip, you have a condition called Terry's nails. It can result from aging, but it can also herald diabetes or kidney, liver, or heart disease.
32318
Most of the time, these white spots on the skin are a sign of sun damage. Skin cells that have been overexposed to UV rays from the sun will often stop producing melanin, creating areas of depigmentation, or white spots.
603290
White spots on a child's nail can imply a zinc deficiency, which is easily curable. Sometimes it corresponds with low iron, low magnesium and calcium levels. At times it can be a mark of a past injury rendered at the base of the nail, which starts showing as a white spot when the nails grow a bit.
946416
Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.
764530
Sign of Skin Cancer A black spot under the nail can indicate a type of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). These melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, including underneath fingernails and toenails. The sub-type of ALM that affects the nail is called subungual melanoma.
389704
If the nail bed is predominantly white with darker rims near the top, this can indicate liver problems such as hepatitis. According to WebMD, pale fingernails can also indicate problems with anemia, liver disease or even heart disease. A fungal infection is the most common cause of yellow nails.
333234
Horizontal ridges run from side to side on your nails and are often referred to as Beau's lines. Horizontal ridges can be caused by trauma to the nail and may be deep or discolored. The can also indicate malnutrition, psoriasis or a thyroid problem.
871485
If your toenails are purple, this may be due to a subungual hematoma, or bruising under the nail bed. “Small blood vessels bleed underneath the nail staining it darker,” says Dr.
15420
One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes or psoriasis.
846594
Leukonychia punctata Also known as "true" leukonychia, this is the most common form of leukonychia, in which small white spots appear on the nails. Picking and biting of the nails are a prominent cause in young children and nail biters.
1012264
Pitting or dents on the nails Pitting or small dents on the surface of your nails can be a sign of any of the following conditions: psoriasis. eczema – a long-term skin condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked.
251887
For others, the white spots may be larger and stretch across the entire nail. The spots may affect one nail or several. The most common cause of leukonychia is injury to the nail bed. These injuries can occur if you pinch or strike your nail or finger.
497480
White lines running across nails Parallel white lines that extend all the way across the nails, known as Muehrcke's lines, are a sign of low levels of protein in the blood. In contrast to Beau's lines, they're not grooved. They can occur as a result of liver disease or malnutrition.
741973
The NHS says: “White spots or streaks are normal and nothing to worry about, but parallel white lines that extend all the way across the nails, known as Muehrcke's lines, are a sign of low levels of protein in the blood.”
911567
Ridges. Have you ever noticed ridges that look like little horizontal or vertical waves on your fingernails? Vertical ridges generally appear later in life and run from the tip of your fingernail to the cuticle. As long as they aren't accompanied by other symptoms such as changes in color, they're considered benign.
1194592
The texture of the nail bed and the surrounding skin can also give you important hints about your health. The nail bed should be smooth and without indentations, pock marks or fingernail ridges. If your nails have: Dents, you should not usually be concerned, as they simply indicate a nail injury that is growing out.