white marks on fingernails?

[munchies]

Does anyone know what those little white marks are that sometimes appear on one's fingernails? I was once told they were a vitamin deficiency, but I don't know if this is accurate.

Anyone? Anyone?

Heather

[beejayw1]

Sometimes, if you bang your finger at the quick, the nail will grow out with a white mark. That's the way it works for me.

[wallycat]

I think it usually means you just hit your nailbed...a small injury that grows out ...

[sneezles]

According to my nana you got one for every lie you told! :rolleyes: :p (BTW, if that's true I'm in good shape...nary a one! ;) ).

[Abbey]

how many white marks tells how many boyfriends you have. :) or at least that's what they said in first grade.

[sneezles]

Originally posted by Abbey
how many white marks tells how many boyfriends you have. :) or at least that's what they said in first grade.

I definitely like that reason a whole lot better than Nana's!!;)

[sassysu3]

From some of the holistic info I've read in the past...it could indicate calcium deposits. Do you have any aches in any of your joints?
Just throwing the 2 cents out there. :p

[munchies]

No, I don't have any aches in my joints.

But here's the odd thing --- I'll go quite a while with any white marks and then suddenly I'll get 3 or 4 on different fingers. For instance, right now I have a larger one on my left thumbnail and one on each of my middle fingers (on either hand). Which makes me think there could be some real cause for it, other than hitting my finger on something. Hitting it makes sense, but I just can't see that I'd do it on multiple fingers at the same times. Too much coincindence, I guess.

Hmm...maybe I'll have to do some research on this...

Heather

[sassysu3]

Hmmmmmmmmm...how's your intake of dairy? Are you a regular milk drinker, or do you have a pretty regular amount of cheese or ice cream in your diet?

The only reason I'm asking is because my son is a cheese-o-holic, and he gets those white marks. However, when I have him cut back on his dairy consumption, they aren't so prevelant.

Really, who knows! Like you, I was just trying to put pieces together in my DS's case.

I don't remember if I had any of those white marks when I was younger (and don't now), but I did have aches in my knees, and was a big consumer of milk. When I cut back, the aches went away. Now I mainly drink soy milk. But I still have some dairy in my diet, just a limited amount.

:)

[Clover]

Originally posted by sassysu3
Hmmmmmmmmm...how's your intake of dairy? Are you a regular milk drinker, or do you have a pretty regular amount of cheese or ice cream in your diet?

The only reason I'm asking is because my son is a cheese-o-holic, and he gets those white marks. However, when I have him cut back on his dairy consumption, they aren't so prevelant.

Really, who knows! Like you, I was just trying to put pieces together in my DS's case.

I don't remember if I had any of those white marks when I was younger (and don't now), but I did have aches in my knees, and was a big consumer of milk. When I cut back, the aches went away. Now I mainly drink soy milk. But I still have some dairy in my diet, just a limited amount.

:)

When I was a kid my mother always said I got those white marks because I didn't drink enough milk! I guess you just can't win with mothers.

I think wallycat and beejayw1 are right, that it's an injury to the nailbed.

[Jewel]

As a licensed manicurist, I was taught that the little white marks are the equivalent of bruises. Nothing to worry about and they grow out! :)

[sunberst]

yes, they can be just a minor nail injury to the nail bed.

however, i have heard, and believe that it can be an indicator of your health. i have read about it numerous times, from numerous sources. here is something i found online, though i cannot vouch for it's accuracy, so please do the research yourself before making any conclusions.

"As early as 400 BC, Hippocrates taught that the nails reflect the condition of the inner body. It is true that abnormalities of the nails can often provide early clues to common medical problems or severe systemic diseases.

The following table outlines some common conditions.
Nail Condition Potential Cause

Complete loss of nail Trauma to the nail; a form of dermatitis, syphilis
Nail body loose Injury; nail psoriasis; fungal or bacterial infections;
medicines, chemotherapy, thyroid disease, Raynauds phenomenon, lupus
Thickened nail body Poor circulation, fungal infection, heredity, mild,
persistent trauma to the nail

Pitted nails sometimes with yellow-to-brown spots Eczema or psoriasis;
hair loss condition

Very soft nails Contact with strong alkali; malnutrition, endocrine
problems; chronic arthritis

Spoon shaped nails Iron deficiency; thyroid disease

Club-like nails growing around swollen finger ends Chronic respiratory or
heart problems; cirrhosis of the liver

Horizontal ridges Injury; infection; nutrition

Longitudinal ridges Aging, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals, thyroid
disease, kidney failure

Brittle, split nails Nail dryness; nails in contact with irritants; silica deficiency

Infected nails; red tender, swollen, pus Bacterial or yeast infection

Overlarge lunulas or moons Overactive thyroid, genetics, self-induced trauma

No lunula Underachieve thyroid, genetics

The following is a listing of additional disorders that may show up in the
nails and it is for reference only;

1. Black, splinter like bits under the nails can be a sign of infectious
endocarditis, a serous heart infection; other heart disease; or a bleeding
disorder.

2. Brittle nails signify possible iron deficiency, thyroid problems,
impaired kidney function, and circulation problems.

3. Brittle, soft, shiny nails without a moon may indicated an overactive
thyroid.

4. Dark nails and/or thin, flat, spoon shaped nails are a sign of vitamin
B12 deficiency or anemia. Nails can also turn gray or dark if the hands are
placed in chemicals such as cleaning supplies (most often bleach) or a
substance to which one is allergic.
5. Deep blue nail beds show a pulmonary obstructive disorder such as asthma
or emphysema.

6. Downward-curved nail ends may denote heart, liver, or respiratory
problems.

7. Flat nails can denote Raynaud’s disease.

8. Greenish nails, if not a result of a localized fungal infection, many
indicate an internal bacterial infection.

9. A half-white nail with dark spots at the tip points to possible kidney
disease.

10. An isolated dark-blue band in the nail bed, especially in light skinned
people, can be a sign of skin cancer.

11. Nail beading (the development of bumps on the surface of the nail) is a
sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

12. Nails that broaden toward the tip and curve downward are a sign of lung
damage, such as from emphysema or exposure to asbestos.

13. Nails that chip, peel, crack, or break easily shows a general
nutritional deficiency and insufficient hydrochloric acid and protein.
Minerals are also required.

14. Nails raised at the base, with small, white ends, show a respiratory
disorder such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. This type of nail may also
simply be inherited.

15. Nails separated from the nail bed may signify a thyroid disorder of a
local infection.

16. Nails that have pitting resembling hammered brass indicate a tendency
toward partial or total hair loss.

17. Pitted red-brown spots and frayed and split ends indicated psoriasis;
vitamin C, folic acid, and protein are required.

18. Red skin around the cuticles can be indicative of a poor metabolism of
essential fatty acids or of a connective tissue disorder such as lupus.

19. Ridges can appear in the nails either vertically or horizontally.
Vertical ridges indicate poor general health, poor nutrient absorption,
and/or iron deficiency. They may also indicate a kidney disorder. Horizontal
ridges can occur as a result of severe stress, either psychological or
physical, such as from infection and/or disease. Ridges running up and down
the nails also indicate a tendency to develop arthritis.

20. Thick nails may indicate that the vascular system is weakening and the
blood is not circulating properly. They may also be a sign of thyroid
disease.

21. Thinning nails may signal ichen planus, an itchy skin disorder.

22. Two white horizontal bands that do not move as the nail grows are a sign
of hypoalbuminemia, a protein deficiency in the blood.

23. Unusually wide, square nails can suggest a hormonal disorder.

24. White liens across the nail may indicate a liver disease.

25. If the white moon area of the nail turns red, it may indicate heart
problems; if it turns slate blue, then it can indicate either heavy metal
poisoning (such as silver poisoning) or lung trouble.

26. White nails indicate possible liver or kidney disorders and/or anemia.

27. White nails with pink near the tips are a sign of cirrhosis.

28. Yellow nails or an elevation of the nail tips can indicate internal
disorders long before other symptoms appear. Some of these are problems with
the lymphatic system, respiratory disorders, diabetes, and liver disorders.

Discolored Fingernails.

Normally, the color of fingernails is uniform and of a lighter tone than the
skin on the back of the hand. The nail bed will show a pinkish color through
the nail body for the fair skinned and a creamy beige for darker skin tones.

Discolored nails can give clues to internal body imbalances. Toxicity to
certain medications can also discolor nails. This following listing is for
reference only:

1. Colorless fingernails that appear much paler than the surrounding skin
may indicate anemia.

2. Red or deep ink fingernails can indicate a tendency to poor peripheral
circulation.

3. Blue nails may be a sign that the blood is not receiving adequate oxygen
due to respiratory disorders, cardiovascular problems, or lupus
erythematosus. Blue nails may also be a reaction to dyes or chemicals.

4. Yellow nails may be the consequence of colored nail enamels, nail
hardeners, tetracycline, fungus, diabetes, psoriasis, or heredity.

5. White, crumbly, soft nails can result from a fungal infection leading to
thickening and ridging of the fingernails. The fungus usually begins at the
free edge of the nail and works its way down to the root.

6. Half white/half pink nails may indicate a fungal infection or, more
seriously, kidney disease.

7. Small white patches that gradually move down the nail are usually a sign
of injury to the nail matrix (such as bending the nail tip too far back) or
of contact exposure to harsh soaps or cleaning products.

8. Purple or black nails are usually due to trauma to the nail. However, a
brown or black streak that begins at the base of the nail and extends to its
tip could be a clue to a potentially dangerous melanoma." - from stopbitingnails.com

[luv2run]

Originally posted by sassysu3
From some of the holistic info I've read in the past...it could indicate calcium deposits.
DD has these and our pediatrician said they indicated calcium deposits. It makes sense in our case because DD is a huge milk drinker.

Debbie :cool:

[munchies]

Wow - that was quite a list, sunberst. I've heard similar information to some of that you provided, which is why I posted this to begin with.

I'm definitely NOT a big milk drinker. But I have been eating more cheese lately - maybe that's why they just suddenly showed up recently.

I'll choose to believe it's either calcium deposits or nailbed "bruises" since they do grow out with time.

Thanks everyone :)
Heather

[Jeanygirl]

We just had a test on this very thing . . .

The dermatologist who did our lecture on nails and nail growth said that such white lines (and other variations -- see Sunberst's list :)) can occur, but that there is no common reason for it. It could be any variety of things (or nothing), and it's no reason for concern.

Certainly wonderful that they're teaching us such useful stuff, isn't it??