Here's What It Means If You Have White Spots On Your Nails

With summer just around the corner, it's easy to fall into a rabbit hole of the 2024 nail trends you need to know. It's also easy to keep those colorful manicures going so long that you either forget what your natural nails look like, or you become unaware of any changes that may have happened. Then one day between manicures, you notice a difference: your nails are covered in white spots.

"When white spots are located within the nail plate and cannot be scraped or removed easily, they are called punctuate leukonychia and are due to trauma to the nail matrix, aka the half-moon area where the nail grows from," board-certified dermatologist and nail specialist Dr. Dana Stern told InStyle. According to Cleveland Clinic, there's true leukonychia, which is the type Stern mentions, apparent leukonychia, a version that's actually in the skin under the nail, and pseudo-leukonychia, which is the result of external organisms (fungus) on the nail.

Although these spots are usually harmless, they can be indicative of more serious issues. One example of that would be exposure to arsenic and/or thallium, but if that's the case, you're going to have other symptoms too. Unless your name is Madame Bovary or you're starring in a Hitchcock film, here's what those white spots mean instead.

No matter what type of leukonychia you have, it's the result of some sort of trauma that's revealing itself in this way. Sometimes it's a direct trauma, like a nail technician getting overly aggressive. "This type of damage can occur during a manicure if your manicurist isn't gentle enough when grooming the nail with sharp tools," board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD told Business Insider.

Allergies, specific medications, and fungal infections too, can also be the reason behind these spots. In some cases, your nails could be giving you a sign about your health, meaning they might be the result of diseases like HIV, diabetes, or organ-related issues. "There are some conditions where either half or 80% of the nail looks white, and that can be due to a systemic disease, such as kidney disease and liver cirrhosis," associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Shari Lipner told Today. 

But, no matter the reason behind white spots, know that it has nothing to do with your calcium intake, contrary to rumors. "I can't tell you how often I have patients who come in and say, 'Oh, calcium deficiency,'" said Lipner. "But that's really a myth."

If you're hoping there's some miracle drug to immediately make these white spots go away, you'll be disappointed to know that there isn't. In most cases, it's just a matter of keeping the nails and nail bed healthy while waiting for the spots to grow out. If a considerable amount of time, say, six months or more has passed and the spots remain, then you may want to do some further investigating. "An easy test to tell if you may have a serious condition is to press on the nails," Lipner told Newsweek. "If the white color remains, it is usually due to trauma and is not concerning. If you press on the nail and the white color disappears, this may be the sign of a more serious health condition. A board-certified dermatologist can examine your nails and diagnose your condition."

While white spots can be just as annoying and unsightly as ridges on your nails, the most important thing to remember is that they're mostly harmless. If they keep popping up after growing out, then take a look at what you (or your manicurist) might be doing to cause trauma and take steps to ease up on your routine.