We all take precautions to protect our body against infections. Yet, most females skip taking care of their nails. Nails also breathe and require adequate care and attention. It is difficult to ascertain that one has healthy nails.
It is a common practice by most women to go for frequent pedicures and use nail polish to make toenails appear more beautiful and presentable. Some women may, however, notice white spots on toenails after removing nail polish.
Presence of white spots or lines on toenails is called “leukonychia”. It is a fairly common finding on nails of any person and they appear as milky-white spots. These spots can be seen on nails of women once nail polish is removed.
White spots on toenails are relatively harmless and not associated with any serious medical condition. Their appearance may vary from person to person in the form of a number of spots present and the nails on which they appear.
This article will take you through causes for white spots on toenails along with treatment and how you can get rid of these spots by using home remedies.
Generally, onset, duration and history of any associated signs and symptoms point to a probable diagnosis.
The table below explains some of the possible causes of having unusual white spots on toenails.
Cause | Description |
Duration Of Nail Polish |
|
Allergy |
|
Injured Nail Bed |
|
Nutritional Deficiency |
|
Fungal Infection |
|
Some clinical conditions associated with white spots or lines on nails are
These clinical conditions also present with their characteristic signs and symptoms.
Treatment for white spots on toenails does not need any medications unless there is a serious documented underlying infection or associated medical condition.
Your doctor may advise you medications if you have white spots due to infection or mineral deficiencies.
The following things need to be kept in mind to manage and avoid getting white spots on toenails after removing nail polish
It is, however, important to visit the doctor to rule out the possibility of infections which may be causing white spots on your toenails.
The following self-care tips at home can help you avoid and treat white spots on toenails
Some of the below-mentioned home remedies also have excellent anti-oxidant properties
Eat a well-balanced diet along with adequate hydration to maintain a good nutritional status.
In women, especially those who have attained menopause, it is important to visit the doctor regularly to check bone mineral density and blood test for serum calcium. This is because calcium depletion occurs rapidly post-menopause.
As mentioned above, white spots on toenails are harmless in most conditions and therefore do not require any specific treatment. However, you need to visit a doctor if the spots start becoming unusually large or worsen along with other signs and symptoms.
Dr. Archana Tegwal is currently working as a lecturer in under-graduate faculty of Homoeopathy in Jawaharlal Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College, Parul University, Vadodara (Gujarat). She has done BHMS & MD in Homeopathic Materia Medica in March 2016 from Dr. V.H.Dave Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Anand (Gujarat). She also serves as a regional manager in NGO “World Healing Society Foundation”.
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