Picture this…
You are getting your nails done, and the manicurist points out the unsightly white marks you are certain didn’t exist two weeks ago. And that leads you to the question, what are those?
Let’s find out.
The human body is ever-changing; and often surprises us with new and improved birthmarks, bumps, and moles in places that were formerly unblemished. To say it simply, our body keeps coming up with things that are not supposed to exist. And out of all those unwelcomed issues, a strange one is the (quite common) milky spots on nails, which appear out of the blue.
Milky Marks on Nails
White spots on nails are just one more way for your body to mess with your mind because these spots are utterly benign, even if their causeless appearance hints otherwise.
However, the good news is that you don’t need to be in esthetician school to know the causes of these spots because we are here to tell you, all thanks to the very talented skin therapy school graduates.
On a serious note, white spots on nails aren’t life-threatening. In most cases, they are just an indication of a previous injury that might have happened a while back, so you forget all about it.
You probably bumped your hand somewhere or knocked your fingers against a hard surface a few weeks ago, but by the time the spots on your nails show up, you don’t even remember hitting your digits, and so you wonder what that is. In short, the white spots on nails or leukonychia are a result of blunt trauma to the nail matrix.
Another lesser-known reason behind the unexpected appearance of white spots on nails is an allergic reaction to a nail paint or hardener. Although most nail lacquers are non-toxic, some can contain chemicals harmful to the nail cells, leading to leukonychia.
Surprising, right? Now you are probably thinking you were worried for no reason at all!
Debunking the Myth
Contrary to popular belief, leukonychia is not a sign of calcium deficiency. Some people also believe that the common nail condition results from a lack of zinc, but that’s also nothing but a fallacy. There is no medical reason- treatable cause you have to treat to get your clean nail back.
You don’t need treatment to take your nail back to its unsullied glory. All you need is to wait a little, let the nail grow, and eventually, the milky marks will disappear. But if you are in a hurry to get rid of the unsightly blemishes, wait a bit and once they reach the tip of your nail matrix, clip them away!
A Note to Remember
Sometimes a fungal infection can cause a nail to turn white in patches, but that’s not leukonychia. The trick to distinguish between the two conditions is that in fungal infection, marks do not disappear when you press on the nail bed. But in the case of leukonychia, the milky blemishes go away when the affected nail is pushed.
Ending Note
The next time white spots make an appearance on your nails, recall all the recent and not-so-recent accidents you have had that involved your hand; you will most likely track the source of your disconcertment, aka the unwanted white marks on nails.
If you wish to become an expert in cosmetology and aesthetics so that the next time an unexpected issue arises, you are well aware of all the possibilities. Apply for cosmetology school today.
Look into the very straightforward cosmetology school application process at the Missouri School of cosmetology. For more tips and trends, check out our Facebook. We offer a wide range of services in Springfield, MO.