The white spot on the nail, also known as leukonychia, is not considered a disease, and usually has no associated symptoms, being just a sign that indicates 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 it can happen due to a lack of vitamin B12 or minerals such as calcium and zinc, for example, or due to minor injuries caused by household chores or manicures. This problem can be prevented and treated by maintaining good nutrition and hydration of the nail.
What causes
There can be several causes that lead to the alteration of the nail matrix, which is where it forms, thus 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 pinning the finger somewhere or suffer 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 the nail
In general, the white spots on the nail disappear spontaneously, without the need for any treatment, however, there are some methods that help to remove the white spots from the nail or prevent its appearance.
Thus, in the case of women who paint their nails, they must remove the enamel well before re-painting the nails and moisturize them well. In addition, protective gloves should be used when using products that may cause allergies, such as those used in household chores for example.
It is also very important to eat well in order to avoid the lack of minerals that are important for maintaining healthy nails like calcium, found in foods such as milk and peppers, iron, present in red meats and strawberries, zinc, present in almonds and turkey, vitamin B12 found in salmon and seafood and folic acid, present in lentils and spinach, for example.
Home treatment
A good way to reduce white spots on your nails, in addition to 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 of apricot seed oil; 1 teaspoon of almond oil; 1 400 IU capsule of vitamin E. oil
Method of preparation
Mix the oils in a bottle, shake well and then massage several drops of the mixture into the nails and cuticles, preferably in the morning and evening.
