What Are White Spots On My Toenails?

White Spots on Toenails Are Called Leukonychia

Leukonychia is the condition when white discoloration appears on either the fingernails or the toenails. It is very common. Furthermore, leukonychia isn't a serious problem in most cases, meaning that people shouldn't get too stressed out about it.

What Does Leukonychia Look Like?

There are multiple kinds of leukonychia. For example, it is possible for someone to experience the whitening of entire nails, which won't be limited to a single nail in most cases. In contrast, it is possible for someone to develop either white spots, white lines, or even white bands on one or more of their nails.

What Are the Common Causes of Leukonychia?

One of the most common causes of leukonychia is some kind of injury to the nail bed. It can take multiple weeks for the white discoloration to show up, so people might not connect the two incidents. Besides this, it is also possible that people are suffering from either a fungal infection, an allergic reaction, or a mineral deficiency.

What Are Some Uncommon Causes of Leukonychia?

Unfortunately, there are other causes of leukonychia that can be much more serious. For example, it could be a sign of either lead poisoning or arsenic poisoning. Alternatively, it could be a sign of heart disease or kidney failure. If people aren't sure what is going on, they should seek a doctor, who will have the expertise, experience, and equipment needed to produce a diagnosis before coming up with a treatment plan.