White Spots On The Fingernails – Causes And Treatment
Experience: 3 yearsShaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.
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Many things can ruin a first impression. Like unfiled and unkempt nails. And when there are white spots, your confidence goes for a toss. Although white spots on fingernails are usually a sign of nutrient deficiency, they may also appear due to fungal infections. Wondering if there are any natural cures for this problem? Read on to find out.
In This Article
- What Is Leukonychia?
- What Causes White Spots On The Fingernails?
- Symptoms Of Leukonychia
- How To Get Rid Of White Spots On The Fingernails Naturally
- Prevention Tips
What Is Leukonychia?
White spots on the nails are an indication of a condition called leukonychia. These spots usually occur on your finger or toenails and are not much of a medical concern.
Some individuals have spots that appear as tiny dots all over the nails, whereas, in others, the spots are large enough to occupy the entire nail.
Leukonychia is a common occurrence and is often a result of any of the following factors.
What Causes White Spots On The Fingernails?
The sudden appearance of white spots on your nails is due to:
- An allergic reaction to a nail product
- A fungal infection (white superficial onychomycosis)
- An injury to the nail or nail bed
- Deficiencies in minerals like zinc and calcium
These white spots differ in their appearance and can occur in various forms. Some of them are given below.
Symptoms Of Leukonychia
The white spots may look like:
- Tiny pointed dots
- Large lines across the nail
- Large individual dots
Depending on the cause, these white spots may vary in their appearance.
- A nail injury can result in large white dots in the center of the nail.
- Allergies often cause small dots all over the nail.
If these white spots are bothering you, and you want to get rid of them right at home, you have landed on the right page. Here are a few simple home remedies that can help remove the white spots on your finger or toenails.
How To Get Rid Of White Spots On The Fingernails Naturally
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of White Spots On Fingernails
1. Essential Oils
a. Tea Tree Oil
You Will Need
- 6 drops of tea tree oil
- 15 mL of olive oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix six drops of tea tree oil with 15 mL of olive oil.
- Apply the mixture to your fingernails and massage well.
- Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, after which you can wash it off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this 1 to 2 times daily for a week.
Why This Works
Tea tree oil has potent antimicrobial properties that can help eliminate the white spots on nails (1). This remedy is especially helpful if they are caused due to a fungal infection.
b. Lavender Oil
You Will Need
- 6 drops of lavender oil
- 15 mL of olive or coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Add six drops of lavender oil to 15 mL of any carrier oil (olive or coconut oil).
- Apply this mixture to your fingernails and massage.
- Leave it on for about 15 minutes before washing it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice daily until you notice an improvement.
Why This Works
Lavender oil has strong antifungal properties that can help in treating persistent white spots caused by a fungal infection (2). Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties can speed up healing and reduce pain if the white spots are the result of an injury (3).
2. Vitamins And Minerals
Deficiencies in vitamin C, calcium, and zinc can lead to the appearance of white spots on fingernails (4). Hence, it is necessary that you get enough of these nutrients through your diet.
Consume citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, oysters, nuts, chicken, milk, yogurt, and sardines that are good sources of these nutrients.
3. Lemon Juice
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- A few drops of olive oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix one to two teaspoons of lemon juice with a few drops of olive oil.
- Apply this mixture to your fingernails.
- Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this once daily.
Why This Works
Lemon juice is a wonderful remedy that can help in getting rid of the spots on your nails. It is rich in vitamin C, which gives you healthy nails that are free of any spots and discoloration (5).
4. Coconut Oil
You Will Need
A few drops of organic coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Take a few drops of coconut oil and massage it into your nails.
- Leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this on a daily basis for best results.
Why This Works
Coconut oil offers multiple benefits when it comes to treating white spots on fingernails. It has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat both fungal infections as well as injuries that may have resulted in the development of the spots (6), (7).
5. Baking Soda
You Will Need
- ½ cup of baking soda
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup of warm water
What You Have To Do
- Take half a cup of baking soda and add one-fourth cup of apple cider vinegar to it.
- Add warm water and mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and soak your fingers in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this once daily for a week.
Why This Works
Baking soda possesses disinfecting properties that can help treat the infection responsible for causing the white spots on your finger or toenails (8). Its alkaline nature aids stain removal, which can also reduce the appearance of white spots on fingernails.
6. White Vinegar
You Will Need
- ½ cup of white vinegar
- ¼ cup of warm water
What You Have To Do
- Mix half a cup of white vinegar with one-fourth cup of warm water.
- Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and soak your hands in the solution for 15 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this thrice a week.
Why This Works
White vinegar exhibits antifungal and destaining properties, both of which help you get rid of the white spots and patches on your nails (9).
7. Yogurt
You Will Need
1 small bowl of plain yogurt
What You Have To Do
- Soak your fingers in a bowl of plain yogurt for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse both your hands with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily for a few days.
Why This Works
Yogurt exhibits antifungal effects due to the presence of naturally occurring microbes in it. It is a wonderful remedy for treating white spots on fingernails caused by fungal infections (10).
8. Garlic
You Will Need
Minced garlic
What You Have To Do
- Take some minced garlic and apply it all over your fingernails.
- Cover your nails with a clean cloth and allow the garlic to work on them.
- Once the paste dries, remove the cloth and wash your nails with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this once every alternate day.
Why This Works
Garlic has powerful antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties (11), (12). This remedy can work well for white spots that may result from an injury and/or fungi.
9. Orange Oil
You Will Need
- 6 drops of orange oil
- 15 mL of any carrier oil (olive or coconut oil)
What You Have To Do
- Add six drops of orange oil to 15 mL of any carrier oil.
- Apply the mixture to your fingernails and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily for a week.
Why This Works
Orange oil helps a great deal in treating any fungal infection on your nails. This is because of its strong antifungal properties, which can also help in fading the white marks on your nails (13).
Continue using these remedies until you get the desired results. Here are a few tips to prevent the recurrence of these white spots on fingernails.
Prevention Tips
While you can continue using these remedies till you get the desired results, you may also opt to follow a few additional tips to prevent the recurrence of these white spots on fingernails. These tips include:
- Avoid direct contact with irritants.
- Avoid using nail polish excessively.
- Keep your nails filed and short.
- Keep your hands and nails moisturized after every wash.
White spots can be easily prevented by taking basic care of your hands and nails. Don’t allow them to mar your self-confidence anymore! Try these remedies and bid goodbye to white spots on fingernails forever. Was this post helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the nutrients whose deficiency causes white spots on the fingernails?
Deficiencies in vitamins like vitamin C and minerals like zinc and calcium can lead to poor nail health and can cause white marks or lines to appear on your nails.
What are the white semi-circles on your fingernails?
The white semi-circles on the base of your fingernails are called the lunulae. Lunula is a part of the nail matrix and is an indication of nail growth.
How long does it take for the white spots on fingernails to go away?
The white dots on your nails, especially those caused by a fungal infection, may take months to disappear as your nails need to regrow completely.
Read full bio of Shaheen Naser
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